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Engraved  from  the  original  seal  brought  to  America 
by  John  Mifflin,  Sr.,  in  1679. 


LIFE  AND  ANCESTRY 


OF 


WARNER  MIFFLIN 


iFrienb— Pbiirtiithtopist— JJatriot 


COMPILED    BY 

HILDA  JUSTICE 


Pf)ilatj£lpi)ta 


FERRIS    &    LEAC  H 

29  NORTH  SEVENTH  STREET 

1905 


Note 

To  the  life-long  interest  and  enthusiasm 
of  Warner  MifHin's  great-granddaughter, 
Sarah  Mifllin  Gay,  is  due  in  no  small  meas- 
ure the  stimulus  that  resulted  in  gathering 
the  material  contained  in  the  follovsdng 
pages.  H.  J. 

Philadelphia,  December,  190k 


Copyright,  1905,  by  Ferris  A  Lzach 


TO    MY    GREAT- AUNT 

ELIZABETH  JOHNS  NEALL  GAY 

THE    OLDEST    LIVING    DIRECT 

DESCENDANT 

OF 

WARNER    MIFFLIN 

Wi)tu  pages  are  affectionatelg  tnscribeti 


W2089S0 


C  0  N  T  E  AT  T  S 


Mifflin  Genealogy   9 

Extract  from  "  Memoranda  Relating  to  the  Mifflin  Family," 

by  J.  H.  Merrill  1890  24 

An  Account  of  the  Mifflin  Family,  bv  Jonathan  Mifflin, 

St.,   1770    \..^ 34 

A  Biographical  Note  on  Warner  Mifflin,  by  Sarah  Mifflin 

Gay    38 

Anecdote    of    Warner    Mifflin    from    "  The    Letters    of    an 

American  Farmer,"  by  Hector  St.  John  de  Crevecoeur, 

1787    41 

Extracts  Relating  to  Warner  Mifflin,  from  "New  Travels 

in  the  United  States,"  by  J.  P.  Brissot  de  Warville, 

1788    64 

Anecdotes  and  Memoirs  of  Warner  Mifflin,  from  "  Friends' 

Miscellany,"  Vol.  V.,  No.  5 69 

"A  Defense  Against  Aspersions,"  by  Warner  Mifflin,  1796  .     77 

Letter  to  Warner  JMifflin,  by  Lomerie  102 

Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  Elizabeth  Drinker 103 

Two  Letters  to  Henry  Drinker,  by  Warner  Mifflin 104 

Official  Positions  Held  by  Warner  Mifflin  110 

Manumissions  of  Slaves,  by  Daniel   and   Warner  Mifflin, 

1774-1777    Ill 

Extracts  from  Cecil  Monthly  Meeting  Relating  to  Joseph 

Warner    129 

Alarriage  Certificate  of  Joseph  and  Ann  Coale  Warner 130 

Marriage  Certificate  of  Daniel  Mifflin  and  Mary  Warner, 

1744   132 

Marriage  Certificate  of  Daniel  Mifflin   and  Ann   Walker, 

1757    134 

Marriage   Certificate   of  Daniel   Neall   and   Sarah   Mifflin, 

1810    136 


Extracts  Relating  to  Warner  Mifflin,  from  Minutes  of  Duck 
Creek,  Little  Creek,  and  Murtherkill  Monthly  Meet- 
ings       138 

Extracts  from  Certificate  Book,  ilurtherkill  Meeting 157 

From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania   and    New    Jersey:      Committee    Appointed    to 

Visit  Howe  and  Washington,  1777  158 

Report  of  Committee,  1778 162 

From    Duck    Creek    Records:     Report   of    Committee    for 

Reformation,  1778   165 

From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania   and    New    Jersey:     Address    to    Congress     on 

Slavery,  Signed  by  535  Friends.  1783   167 

From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  Delaware  and  Western  Parts  of 
Maryland    and    Virginia:      Address    to    Congress    on 

Slavery  and  the  Slave  Traffic,  1789 170 

From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, etc. :    Address  to  Congress  on  Exemption  from 

MiUtary  Duty,  1790  177 

"A  Serious  Expostulation  with  the  Members  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  United  States,"  by  Warner 

Mifflin,  1793    183 

From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Philadel- 
phia :    Address  to  Congress  on  Slavery,  1797  198 

Will  of  Anne  Eyre,  1720 203 

Will  of  Edward  Mifflin,  1740  207 

Extract  from  Will  of  Mary  Mifflin,  1772   210 

Deed,  Daniel  and  Warner  iUfflin,  1790  211 

Will  of  Daniel  Mifflin,  1795  218 

WUl  of  Warner  Mifflin,  1798  223 

Extract  from  Will  of  Anne  Emlen  Mifflin,  1811   228 

Note  on  the  Mifflin  Homesteads  229 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


The  Mifflin  Arms Fronti^t 

Engraved  from  the  original  seal  brought  to  America 
by  John  Mifflin,  Sr.,  in  1679.  Seal  in  the  possession 
of  Mrs.  William  Mifflin,  of  Philadelphia.  Plate  in 
the  possession  of  Mrs.  James  Mifflin,  of  Philadelphia. 


OPP.    PAGE 


Map  of  Philadelphia  and  Parts  Adjacent  .    .      9 

With  a  perspective  view  of  the  State-House,  by  N. 
Scull  and  G.  Heap,  1750.  Photographed  from  the 
map  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Graham  Calvert,  of 
Philadelphia. 

Title   Page    of   Warner    Mifflin's    "Defense 
Against  Aspersions" 77 

Printed  in  Philadelphia,  1796.  From  the  original  in 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Frank  L.  Neall,  of  Philadelphia. 

AVarner  Mifflin's  Deed  of  Manumission,  1775  .  112 

Photographed  from  the  original,  in  the  possession  of 
his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  .lohns  Neall  Gay, 
of  Stateu  Island,  N.  Y. 


life  antJ  ^ncestrg  of  Wmmx  ilifttin. 


I.  John  Mifflix,  born  1638,  Warminster,  Wiltsliire, 
England;  came  to  America  1676-79,  and 
settled  among  the  Swedes  on  the  Delaware; 
located  at  "  Fountain  Green,"  8  mo.  13, 
16S0,  the  name  given  by  him  to  the  origi- 
nal plantation  on  the  Schuylkill  Kiver,  now 
included  in  Fairmount  Park,  which  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 
land.  The  title  was  confirmed  by  patent 
from  William  Penn,  dated  5  mo.  18,  1684, 
having  originally  been  granted  by  the 
Court  at  Upland,  then  held  at  Kingsess, 
8  mo.  13,  1680,  upon  the  Duke  of  York's 
rite.' 

His  first  wife  (name  not  known)  died 
shortly  after  coming  to  America,  but  she 
was  the  mother  of  John,  11.  His  second 
wife  was  Eleanor,  whom  he  married  be- 
tween 1684  and  1693.  He  died  Philadel- 
phia, 7  mo.  4,  1716. 

n.  JoiDf,  born  Wiltshire,  England,  1661-63;  mar- 
ried Philadelphia,   12  mo.  6,  1683,  Eliza- 

1  From  "Memoranda  Relating  to  the  Miflflin  Family,"  by 
J.  H.  Merrill,  p.  29. 


10  Mtt  anD  anceisttp  oC 

GKN^LOGY  beth  Hardy,  of  Derbyshire,  England,  who 
came  to  America,  1682,  and  settled  in 
Darby,  Pa.  She  was  born  about  1663,  and 
died  Philadelphia,  6  mo.  21,  1736. 

John  Mifflin  died  Philadelphia,  4  mo.  4, 
1714. 

CHILDEEN  OF  JOHN  AND  ELIZABETH  (hARDy) 
MIFFLIN. 

III.  1.  Edward,  born  "  Fountain  Green "  (now 
part  of  Fairmount  Park),  Philadelphia, 
1685;  moved  to  Accomac  County,  Va. ; 
married  Mary  Eyre,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Ann  (Neech)  Eyre,  of  Northampton 
County,  Va.;  died  Accomac  County,  Va., 
1743.    Will  dated  10  mo.  7,  1740;  probated 

5  mo.  31,  1743;  recorded  Accomac  County, 
Va.,  Records,  Vol.  1737-1743,  p.  470. 

Mary   Mifflin    died    1775.      AVill   dated 

6  mo.  18,  1772;  probated  3  mo.  25,  1775; 
recorded  Accomac  County,  Va.,  Records, 
Vol.  1772-77,  p.  312.  For  proof  of  mar- 
riage, see  Deed  to  Thomas  Savage,  Jr.,  Vol. 
17,  p.  63,  Northampton  County,  Va., 
Records,  dated  11  mo.  11,  1726.  She  was 
the  widow  of  Southey  Littleton,  of  Hun- 
gars,  when  she  married  Edward  Mifflin. 
Edward  and  Mary  Mifflin  lived  at  their  plan- 
tation, called  "  Pharsalia,"  situated  on  the 


Garnet  Q^ifflin,  ii 

GenSS)gt  north  side  of  the  mouth  of  Swansgiitt 
Creek,  in  the  northern  part  of  Accomac 
County,  just  below  the  Maryland  line,  on 
the  ocean  side  of  the  peninsula. 

Daniel  Eyre  was  the  youngest  of  the 
three  sons  (John,  Thomas  and  Daniel)  of 
Thomas  and  Susanna  (Baker)  Eyre. 
Thomas  Eyre  was  a  Quaker.  He  lived  on 
the  ocean  side  of  the  eastern  shore  of  Vir- 
ginia, in  Northampton  County,  at  his  plan- 
tation, called  "  Golden  Quarter."  He  died, 
1657.  Will  dated  11  mo.  18,  1657;  pro- 
bated 12  mo.  12,  1657;  recorded  Vol.  7, 
p.  72,  I»3'orthampton  County,  Va.,  Records. 
Susanna  (Baker)  Eyre  died  circa  1683. 
She  married  (2d)  Captain  Francis  Potts,  and 
(3d)  Lieutenant-Colonel  William  Kendall. 

Tradition  says  Thomas  Eyre  (who  was  in 
Northampton  County,  Va.,  before  11  mo., 
1643),  was  sent  down  by  William  Penn, 
commissioned  to  aid  in  establishing  Quaker 
Meeting  Houses  on  the  peninsula.  He  was 
a  man  of  some  wealth,  and  bequeathed 
lands  to  his  sons,  John,  Thomas  and 
Daniel. 

Susanna  (Baker)  Eyre  was  the  sister  of 
Daniel  Baker.  In  his  will  he  gives  prop- 
erty   to    William    Kendall,  Jr.,  and   Mary 


12  Life  anD  ^nctmy  of 

geneaujqy  Kendall,  "  the  son  and  daughter  of  Lieut.- 
Col.  AVilliam  Kendall,  and  my  sister 
Susanna  his  wife."  Vol.  7-8,  p.  12,  North- 
ampton Countv,  Va.,  Records.  See  also 
Bill  of  Sale  of  Mare  bv  Daniel  Baker  to 
his  "  brother  William  Kendall,  for  the 
joint  benefit  of  John,  Thomas  and  Daniel 
EjTe."  Vol.  1657-1666,  p.  81,  dated 
1  mo.  28,  1662.  For  proof  that  Susanna 
was  the  mother  of  John,  Thomas  and 
Daniel  E>Te,  see  release  from  Thomas 
Eyre  to  Lieut.-Col.  William  Kendall,  10  mo. 
28,  1678.  See,  also,  patent  to  "  Eyre  Hall," 
dated  3  mo.  30,  1662,  granted  to  John, 
Thomas  and  Daniel  Eyre  by  Governor  Sir 
William  Berkeley,  and  divided  5  mo.  28, 
1688,  Vol  II.,  Deeds  and  Wills,  etc.,  p.  172, 
Northampton  County,  Va.,  Records.  The 
patent  was  made  out  in  the  name  of  Lieut.- 
Col.  William  Kendall,  their  stepfather,  who 
conveyed  it  to  them,  and  stated  in  Deed  of 
Conveyance  that  the  land  was  theirs  in  right 
of  their  father,  Thomas  Eyre,  but  that  he 
had  caused  patent  to  be  made  for  convey- 
ance and  better  management  of  the  prop- 
erty. John  Eyre,  the  eldest  son,  having 
heired  the  old  home  place,  "  Golden  Quar- 
ter," sold  his  interest  in  the  patented  lands 
to  his  brothers,  for  a  nominal  sum. 


Garnet  Mifflin*  i3 

2.  Geoege,  born  "  Foimtaiu  Green,"  1688;  mar- 

ried Philadelpbia,  11  mo.  29,  1713,  Esther 
Cordery,  daughter  of  Hugh  and  Deborah 
Cordery.  He  lived  in  Philadelphia,  was 
admitted  freeman  of  the  citv,  April  or  May, 
1717;  merchant,  1736;  member  of  Common 
Council,  1730;  member  of  Governor's 
Council,  1730;  owner,  in  1731,  of  interest 
in  Colebrookdale  Furnace,  erected  1720, 
and  said  to  be  the  oldest  in  Pennsylvania. 
By  his  father's  will  he  received  a  house  and 
lot  on  south  side  of  High  Street.  He  died 
Philadelphia,  4  mo.  10,  1758. 

3.  JoKx,  born  "Fountain    Green,"  1690;  mar- 

ried Elizabeth;  lived  in  Philadelphia  and 
Kent  County,  Del.;  admitted  freeman  of 
Philadelphia,  April  or  May,  1717;  mer- 
chant, 1717;  by  his  father's  will  he  re- 
ceived a  house  and  lot  on  High  Street, 
adjoining  that  of  his  brother  George;  pur- 
chased, in  1716,  house  and  lot  on  south  side 
of  Chestnut  Street;  died  Kent  County, 
Del.,  prior  to  1733. 

4.  Elizabeth,  born  "' Foimtain  Green,"  1692; 

married,  prior  to  1714,  Benjamin  Oram; 
died  prior  to  1733. 

5.  Patience,    bom    "Fountain    Green,"    1694; 

and  died  there  9  mo.  23,  1717,  unmarried. 


14  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

6.  Jane,  born  "Fountain  Green,"  1696;  mar- 

ried, Philadelphia  Monthly  Meeting,  6  mo. 
30,  1717,  John  Waller. 

7.  Samuel,  born  "  Fountain  Green,"  1698;  mar- 

ried Elizabeth;  died  Philadelphia,  8  mo. 
1,  1724. 

8.  Jonathan,   born  *' Foimtain   Green,"    1699; 

and  died  there  3  mo.  15,  1700. 

9.  Jonathan,  "  the  Historian,"  born  "  Fountain 

Green,"  4  mo.  12,  1704;  married  (1)  Phila- 
delphia, 3  mo.  30,  1723,  Sarah  Robinson; 
married  (2),  between  8  mo.  28  and  9  mo. 

28,  1752,  Rebecca  Evans;  married  (3),  11 
mo.  9,  1758,  Sarah  Powell;  died  Philadel- 
phia, 10  mo.  15,  1781.  Jonathan,  the 
Historian,  lived  on  a  plantation  near  the 
Germantown  Road,  described  in  Yarlies' 
map  of  1802.  Sarah  Robinson  was  bom 
Philadelphia,  1706;  died  Philadelphia  5  mo. 

29,  1745.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Sarah  (Jeffervs)  Robinson.  He  was  an 
Englishman,  who  had  been  captured  by- 
pirates  and  held  in  slavery  in  Morocco,  and 
was  redeemed  by  the  Quakers.  Rebecca 
Evans  died  Philadelphia  10  mo.  13,  1753. 
Sarah  Powell  was  born  Philadelphia,  1711, 
and  died  Philadelphia,  1  mo.  21,  1792.    She 

was  Sarah  Armitt  and  the  widow  of  Wil- 


matntt  Mifflin*  i5 

Genealogy   ^^^^  Powcll,  of  the  Powelton  Farm,  who 
died  1735. 

CHILDREN  OF  EDWARD  AiSD  MARY  (eYRE) 
MIFFLIN. 

IV.  1.  John,  born ;  died . 


2.  Daniel,  born  Accomac  County,  Va.,  1722; 
married  (1),  9  mo.  15,  1744:,  Mary  Warner, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Coale)  War- 
ner, of  Kent  County,  Md.,  who  was  born 
3  mo.  7,  1727;  married  (2),  10  mo.  17, 
1757,  Ann  Walker,  daughter  of  John 
Walker,  of  Accomac  County,  Va.;  mar- 
ried (3),  about  1788,  Mary  Pusey,  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  and  Mary  Pusey,  of 
London  Grove;  died  Accomac  County,  Va., 
12  mo.  31,  1795;  buried  in  Family  Burying 
Ground,  Accomac.  Will  dated  12  mo.  22, 
1795;  probated  4  mo.  27,  1796. 

Joseph  Warner  married  Ann  Coale  11 
mo.  6,  1725;  died  11  mo.  10,  1730. 

"Mary  (Pusey)  Mifflin,  born  6  mo.  8, 
1742,  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
Pusey,  of  London  Grove.  She  became  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends  at  the 
age  of  seventeen.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
she  married  Joseph  Husband,  and  moved  to 
Duck    Creek.     Her    first    husband  died  in 


16  Lite  anD  ancestrp  of 

gS^u)gy  1"'-*5j  leaving  her  with  eight  children  to 
support,  and  but  little  means.  She  was 
afterwards  married  to  Daniel  !Mifflin,  and 
removed  to  his  residence  in  Accomac 
County,  Ya. ;  after  the  death  of  her  second 
husband  she  moved  to  Baltimore.  In  1820 
she  returned  to  Duck  Creek,  where  she 
died  3  mo.  28,  1823."  ^ 

3.  A>'x,  bom ;  died  before  1743. 

4.  SAiiuEL,  born  ;  died  . 

5.  SouTHEY,     bom     ;     married     Johanna 

Thomas  6  mo.  13,  1750;  died . 

CHTT.DREX  OF  DANEEL  A>T)  MAEY  (wAE>T;e) 
MIFFLCs. 

V.  1.  Warner,  bom  "Pharsalia,"  Accomac  County, 
Va.,8  mo.  21,  1745;  married  (1),  Philadel- 
phia, 5  mo.  14,  1767,  Elizabeth  Johns; 
married  (2),  Philadelphia,  10  mo.  9,  1788, 
Ann  Emlen;  died  10  mo.  16,  1798,  of  yel- 
low fever,  at  "  Chestnut  Grove,"  near  Cam- 
den, Del.  Buried  in  Motherkill  Burving 
Ground,  near  Camden,  Del.  TTill  probated 
1  mo.  17,  1799. 

Elizabeth    Johns   was   the    daughter   of 
Kensey'  and  Susanna  Galloway  Johns,  of 

' "  Friends'  Miscellany,"  Vol.  III.,  p.  46. 


Watntt  90imhh  17 

G^^GT  "^^st  River,  Md.  Her  father  was  the  son  of 
Kensej^  Johns  and  Elizabeth  Benson  Chew, 
and  Kensey^  Johns  was  the  son  of  Richard 
and  Elizabeth  Kensey  Johns. 

Elizabeth  Johns  Mifflin  died  6  mo.  3, 
1786. 

Ann  Emlen  was  the  daughter  of  George 
and  Ann  Emlen,  of  Philadelphia.  She  was 
a  "  com-inced  friend,"  wearing  linen  caps, 
and  clothes  the  natural  color  of  the  wool. 
She  died  3  mo.  22,  1815.    Will  dated  1811. 

2.  Edward,  born  7  mo.  15,  1747;  deceased  an 

infant. 

3.  Ann,  born  10  mo.  2,  1748. 

4.  Saeah,  bom  2  mo.  10,  1751. 

5.  Daniel,  born  4  mo.  7,  1754;  married  Debo- 

rah Howell,  10  mo.  6,  1778;  died  12  mo.  31, 
1812. 

CHTLDEEN  OF  DAN'IEL  AND  ANN  (wALKEe) 
MIFFLIN. 

6.  "Walker,  bom  8  mo.  5,  1758;  married  Sarah 

Blundell;  died  1  mo.  3,  1790. 

7.  Mary,  bom   6   mo.    11,    1760;  married  'Nsl- 

thaniel  Hunn. 

8.  Ann,  bom  10  mo.  10,  1762. 

2 


18  jLife  anD  ancesttp  of 

9.  Elizabeth,  born  2  mo.  18,  1765. 

10.  Patience,  born  12  mo,  17,  1766;  married 

Jonathan  Hunn,  Jr.,  8  mo.  12,  1789. 

11.  Elizabeth,   born  10  mo.   5,  1769;  married 

Samuel  Howell,  10  mo.  10,  1793. 

12.  Sakah,  born  5  mo.  21,  1772. 

13.  Eyke,    born    6    mo.    26,    1774;    married 

Thomas  Berry,  of  Cecil  County,  Md.,  11 
mo.  12,  1800;  died  1  mo.  7,  1802. 

14.  Eebecca,   born  4   mo.    21,   1777;   married 

Joseph  Galloway  Rowland. 

CHILDKEN  of   WARNEE  and   ELIZABETH   (jOHNs) 
MIFFLIN. 

VI.  1.  Mary,  born  4  mo.  21,  1768;  died  2  mo.  23, 
1783. 

2.  Elizabeth,  born  2  mo.  14,  1770;  died  2  mo. 

29,  1770. 

3.  Elizabeth,   born  1   mo.   26,   1771;   married 

Clayton  Cowgill,  7  mo.  18,  1792. 

4.  Sarah,  bom  4  mo.  4,  1773;  died  7  mo.,  1773. 

5.  Ann,  born  9  mo.  20,  1774;  married  Warner 

Raisin,  5  mo.  19,  1795. 

6.  Warner,  born  4  mo.  6,  1777;  married  (1) 

Sarah  Ann  Newlin,  3  mo.  8,  1810;  married 


mamtt  9^imm.  19 

gSaTogy   (2)  Elizabeth  Laws,  10  mo.  18,  1825;  died 
1840. 

7.  Susanna,  bom  7  mo.  24,  1779. 

8.  Hannah,  bom  10  mo.  30,  1781;  died  5  mo. 

11,  1785,  of  the  putrid  sore  throat. 

9.  Sakah,  born  12  mo.  9,  1784;  married  Daniel 

iN'eall,  3  mo.  21,  1810;  died  2  mo.  5,  1837. 

CHILDREN   OF   WARNER  AND   ANN   (eMLEn) 
MIFFLIN. 

10.  SAjroEL  Emlen,  bom  4  mo.  6,  1790. 

11.  Lemuel,  bora  3  mo.  23,  1792. 

12.  Mary  Ann,  born  3  mo.,  1795;  died  8  mo., 

1795. 


NEALL. 

CHILDREN  OF  DANIEL  AND  SARAH  (mIFFLIn) 


NEALL. 


VIL   1.  Sarah,  bora  5  mo.  29,  1813;  died  7  mo.  19, 
1813. 

2.  Warner  Mifflin,  born  5  mo.  2,  1815;  died 

8  mo.  3,  1815. 

3.  Daniel,  born    Ben    Salem,  2  mo.  15,  1817; 

married    Philadelphia,    6    mo.    21,    1839, 
Cecilia  Anderson,  daughter  of  James  and 


20  Life  and  ancesttp  of 

G^^^oGY  Cecilia  (Wright)  Anderson,  of  Talbot 
County,  Md.;  died  1  mo.  6,  189i.  Cecilia 
A.  Xeall,  born  12  mo.  25,  1806;  died  2  mo. 
2,  1897. 

4.  Elizabeth  Johns,  bom  Ben  Salem,  11  mo.  7, 
1819;  married  Philadelphia,  11  mo.  7, 
1845,  Sydney  Howard  Gay,  of  !N"ew  York, 
son  of  Ebenezer  and  Mary  Allyn  Otis  Gay, 
of  Hingham,  Mass.  Sydney  Howard  Gay 
died  6  mo.  28,  1888. 

CHILDEEX  OF  DANIEL  A^TD  CECILIA  (aNDERSOn) 
XEALL. 

Vin.  1.  Eliza  Townsend,  born  Philadelphia,  7  mo. 
6,  1840;  married  William  Wirt  Justice, 
6  mo.  11,  1862. 

2.  Anna  Yaughan,  bom  Philadelphia  7  mo.  28, 

1842;  married  Theodore  Justice,  5  mo.  11, 
1871. 

3.  Frank  Lesley,  bom  Philadelphia,  12  mo.  12, 

1844;  married  (1),  11  mo.  24,  1870,  Han- 
nah Woodnut  Griscom,  daughter  of  Dr. 
John  D.  and  Margaret  Acton  Griscom; 
married  (2),  8  mo.  11,  1881,  Wilhelmina 
Walbaum,  daughter  of  Kev.  Adolphus  and 
Charlotte  Kuper  Walbaum,  of  Dalston, 
London,  England. 


Earner  Q^ifain,  21 

CHILDREN  OF  WILLIAM  W.  AND  ELIZA  (nEALl) 
JUSTICE. 

IX.   1.  Cecilia,  bom  7  mo.  5,  1864;  died  5  mo.  12, 

1886. 

2.  Mary  Cook,  born  12  mo.  23,  186Y;  married 
(1),  6  mo.  11,  1890,  Leigbton  Lee.  He  was 
born  10  mo.  5,  1866;  died  11  mo.  15,  1898. 
Married  (2),  5  mo.  24,  1904,  Joshua  Coffin 
Chase. 

CHILDREN  OF  THEODORE  AND  ANNA  (VAUGHAN  NEALl) 
JUSTICE. 

IX.  1.  Hilda,  bom  3  mo.  5,  1874. 

2.  William  "Warner,  bora  11  mo.  8,  1878. 

CHILDREN  OF  FRANK  L.  AND  HANNAH  (WOODNUT 
GRISCOm)  NEALL. 

IX.  1.  M.ARGARET  AcTON,  bom  9  mo.  16,  1874. 

2.  Cecilia  Helen,  born  8  mo.  22,  1876. 

CHILDREN  OF  FRANK  L.  AND  WILHELMINA  (waLBAUm) 
NEALL. 

3.  Charlotte  Walbaum,  born  3  mo.  28,  1883. 

4.  Adelaide  Walbaum,  born  8  mo.  23,  1884. 

5.  Josephine,  born  4  mo.  10,  1887. 

6.  Daniel,  bom  4  mo.  22,  1894. 


22  Life  and  ance$ttp  of 

CHILDREN   OF   LEIGHTON  AND  MAEY   (jUSTICe) 
LEE. 

X.     1.  William  Justice,  bom  6  mo.  26,  1891. 

2.  Leighton,  born  9  mo.  12,  1893;  died  4  mo. 

25,  1894. 

3.  Benjamin,  bom  11  mo.  4,  1894. 

4.  Philip  Leighton,  bom  1  mo.  30,  1899. 

children  of  sydney  howard  and  elizabeth 
(neall)  gay. 

VIII.  1.  Walter  Otis,  bom  Staten  Island,  7  mo.  19, 

1848;  died  8  mo.  31,  1849. 

2.  Sarah  Mifflin,  bom  5  mo.  5,  1852;  died 

3  mo.  13,  1901. 

3.  Martin,  bom  5  mo.  15,  1854;  married  9  mo. 

18,  1895,  Julia  De  Witt  Stone,  born  7  mo. 
4,  1864,  daughter  of  William  F.  and 
Martha  (Yoimg)  Stone. 

4.  Mary  Otis,  born  12  mo.  20,  1861;  married 

5  mo.  28,  1889,  William  Goodenow  Will- 
cox,  son  of  William  Henry  and  Annie 
Goodenow  Willcox.  William  G.  Willcox, 
born  2  mo.  8,  1859,  in  Reading,  Mass. 

child  of  martin  AND  JULIA  (sTONe)  GAY. 

IX.  1.  Martha  Stone,  born  9  mo.  5,  1896. 


Watntt  OPifflin^  23 

CHILDEEN   OF  WILLIAM  GOODENOW  AND  MAEY 
(oTis  gay)  WILLCOX. 

IX.  1.  Heney,  born  5  mo.  3,  1890. 

2.  Sydney  Gay,  born  7  mo.  28,  1892. 

3.  Daniel,  bom  4  mo.  26,  1896. 

4.  Elizabeth  Neall,  born  7  mo.  11,  1899. 

5.  Anna  Goodenow,  born  4  mo.  27,  1903. 


EXTEACT  FEOM 

"MEMORANDA,  RELATING  TO  THE 
MIFFLIN  FAMILY," 

BY  JOHJf  HOUSTOX  MERRILL.^ 

John  Mifflin,  senior,  and  John  Mifflin,  junior, 
father  and  son,  came  to  America,  from  Warminster, 
"Wiltshire,  England,  at  some  time  prior  to  1679.  It 
is  probable  that  they  sailed  in  one  of  the  five  ships 
containing  colonists,  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  who  disembarked  at  what  is  now  Burling- 
ton, New  Jersey,  in  1677  or  1678.'  The  first  authen- 
tic record  known  to  exist  of  the  Mifflin  family  in 
America  is  as  follows: 

Honerble  Sir 

Wee  whose  names  ar  here  under  subscribed  lately 
come  from  old  England  \Yith  Intent  to  inhabitt  in  this  contry, 
And  if  yor  Honor  please  to  Grant  us  an  order  \'under  yor  hand 
to  setle  between  Mr.  Fitter  Alderridge's  Plantation  &  the 
ffalls  of  Dellowar  River  wee  shall  bee  willing  to  embrace  it  & 
to  hold  it  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country  being  a  ffit 
place  for  Husbandmen :  Wee  may  have  land  in  Jersie  side,  but 
we  ar  willing  to  become  Tennants  to  his  Highness  the  Duke 
of  Yourke  if  yor  Honor  please  to  give  us  the  grant  and  to 
clear  the  Indians  that  now  ...  to  send  for  the  rest  of  or 
ffamilys  use  thereof,  or  or  relations  Avhich  Looke  for  a  Re- 

»Pp.  5-11.    Pub.  4  mo.  24,  1890,  for  private  distribution. 

2  Smith's  "  History  of  New  Jersey."  Westcott  and  Scharf's 
"  History  of  Philadelphia,"  vol.  I.,  p.  79. 

24 


CQarnet  90iUiin.  25 

turne  from  us  soe  desiring  yor  answere  by  thLa  bearer  wee  shall 
waite  for  it  before  vre  settle  &  shall  Rest 
Your  Humble  Servants, 

although  unknown, 

John  Akarman,  Sen.,  John  Budd, 

John  Akarman,  Jun.,  John  Miflflin,  Sen., 

Eobert  Hoskins,  John  Mifflin,  Jun., 

Daniel  Brinson,  Robert  Lucas, 

Thomas  Sibly,  John  Lucas, 

Wm.  Clark,  Samuel  Clift, 
Thomas  Revell. 

Burlington,  June  ye  23rd,  1679.i 

The  next  authentic  record  appears  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  provisional  court,  established  bj  the  au- 
thority of  Governor  Andros,  the  representative  of  the 
Duke  of  York,  at  Upland,  on  the  Delaware.  On  the 
13th  day  of  the  Sth  month,  1680,  the  Court,  then 
sitting  at  Kingsess,  makes  the  following  order: 

Upon  the  peticon  of  John  Mifflin,  senior,  The  Court  doe 
Grant  him  to  take  up  150  acres  of  Land,  wthin  ye  Courts  Lim- 
its wch  heretofore  hath  not  ben  Granted,  taken  up  or  Improved 
by  others,  hee  seating  &  Improving  ye  same  according  to  Lawe 
&  Regulacons. 

Upon  the  peticon  of  John  Mifflin,  Junior,  the  Court  doe 
grant  him  to  take  up  150  acres  of  Land,  wthin  ye  Courts  Lim- 
its, wch  heretofore  hath  not  ben  Granted  or  taken  up  by  others, 
hee  seating  &  Improving  ye  same  according  to  Lawe  &  Regu- 
lacons.- 

'  From  documents  relating  to  the  "  Colonial  History  of  New 
York,"  vol.  XIL,  p.  623;  "  New  Jersey  Archives  "  (First  Series), 
vol.  I.,  p.  289. 

'"Records  of  Upland  Court,  1676- 1G81."  VoL  VH.,  Penn- 
sylvania Historical  Society,  p.  182. 


26  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

These  grants,  found  among  those  made  by  this 
Court  to  Swedes,  confirm  the  family  tradition  that 
the  father  and  son  first  lived  for  awhile  among  the 
Swedes  on  the  Delaware,  This  places  the  family  as 
one  of  the  earliest,  if  not  the  first,  of  the  English  set- 
tlers in  Pennsylvania.  The  spot  chosen  as  their 
future  home  was  probably  little  less  beautiful  then 
than  now.  It  was  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  of 
land  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Schuylkill,  now  included 
in  Fairmount  Park.  Here  father  and  son  lived,  in 
a  small  building  by  the  water-side,  tradition  says, 
and  began  the  cultivation  of  their  land.  They  were 
thus  located  upon  property  which  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  family  for  many  succeeding  genera- 
tions, at  least  two  years  prior  to  the  arrival  of  Wil- 
liam Penn.  As  soon  as  Penn  had  reached  his  new 
possessions,  accompanied  and  followed  by  numbers  of 
sturdy  Friends,  who  proceeded  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  Philadelpliia,  and  to  locate  on  all  sides  of  these 
settlers  who  had  preceded  them,  measures  were  taken 
to  obtain  a  confirmation  of  the  title  to  their  land. 
Accordingly,  on  the  18th  day  of  the  5th  month, 
1684,  Penn  confirmed  the  original  grant  as  follows: 

William  Penn,  by  the  Providence  of  God  and  the  King's 
authority,  Proprietary  of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania  and 
ye  territories  thereunto  belonging,  To  all  to  ■whom  these  pres- 
ents shall  come  sendeth  Greeting: 

Whereas,  there  is  a  tract  of  land  in  ye  county  of  Philadel- 
phia, Beginning  at  a  corner  marked  Hickory,  standing  on  ye 
east  side  of  Schuylkill ;  then  North-east  &  by  East  by  the  land 


caatner  Mifflin.  27 

of  Dennis  Rotchford  three  hundred  and  thirty  perches  to  a 
corner  marked  White  Oak:  then  South  and  by  East  by  the 
land  of  Swan  Swanson  and  Compa.  one  hundred  and  fifty 
perches  to  a  corner  marked  Red  Oak;  then  South-west  &  by 
West  a  half  Westerly  by  Vacant  land  three  hundred  &  ten 
perches  to  a  corner  marked  Black  Oak,  standing  on  Schuylkill 
River,  to  ye  first-mentioned  Hickory  tree,  containing  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  of  land,  granted  by  an  Ordr  of  Court 
at  Kingsess,  bearing  date  ye  13th  day  of  ye  Sth  month,  1680, 
&  resurveyed  by  a  Warrant  from  myself,  bearing  date  ye  24th 
day  of  ye  4th  month,  1683  &  laid  out  by  the  Surveyor  Genl  ordr 
ye  5th  day  of  ye  sd  month  &  year  unto  John  Miffiin,  Senr  & 
Junior  &  ye  sd  John  Mifflin,  Senr  &.  Junr  requesting  me  to  con- 
firm ye  same  by  Patent.  Kno  ye  that  I  have  given,  granted 
&  confirmed,  &c.  &c. 

IIMIIIIIIIMI 

Wm.  Penn — locus  sigilli — 

IIIIMIMIIIII 

Upon  the  original  patent  there  are  two  endorse- 
ments of  record,  showing,  first,  a  conveyance  by  John 
Mifflin,  senior,  in  fee  simple,  to  his  wife,  Eleanor 
Mifflin,  dated  September  25th,  1693,  and,  second,  a 
reconveyance,  for  the  consideration  of  £115,  from 
John  and  Eleanor  to  John  Mifflin,  junior,  dated  June 
10th,  1698/ 

The  location  of  this  grant  is  determined  by  the 
description  in  the  original  patent,  subsequent  con- 
veyances between  members  of  the  family,  and  various 
records  and  traditions.  It  was  a  tract  of  three  hun- 
dred acres,  covering  that  portion  of  Fairmount  Park 

'  Recorded  in  Patent  Book  "  A."  vol.  IV.,  p.  357,  Recorder's 
Office,  Philadelphia. 


28  Life  anD  ance$trp  of 

now  known  as  Fountain  Green  and  Rockland. 
"While  its  exact  limits  could  not  be  ascertained  from 
the  original  description,  because  of  the  obliteration 
of  the  landmarks,  without  a  laborious  examination 
and  comparison  of  numerous  chains  of  title  now 
merged  into  the  Fairmount  Park  property,  a  rough 
survey,  based  upon  the  original  description,  and  locat- 
ing certain  boundaries  by  subsequent  conveyances 
from  members  of  the  family,  leaves  its  general  loca- 
tion beyond  doubt.  What  is  still  known  as  Mifflin's 
Lane  formed  the  southeastern  line.  This  was  origi- 
nally a  clearly-marked  road  leading  from  the  Ridge 
Road  to  the  Schuylkill,  passing  near  the  south- 
eastern line  of  the  new  reservoir,  and  crossing  the 
main  Park  drive  near  the  corner  of  that  structure. 
Little  is  left  but  the  marks  of  this  ancient  lane  on  old 
maps  to  indicate  its  course  in  that  part  towards  the 
Ridge  Road.  The  growth  of  a  city  which  was  only 
a  village  when  it  was  first  used  has  obliterated  it. 
But  the  other  portion  towards  the  Schuylkill  is 
marked  by  two  rows  of  majestic  trees  with  inter- 
twined branches,  making  what  was  once  a  beautifiil 
and  shaded  approach  to  the  old  homestead  near  the 
river.  Another,  and  perhaps  equally  enduring  monu- 
ment, is  the  name  Fountain  Green.  It  is  now  impos- 
sible to  say  when  this  name  was  given  to  the  family 
property,  but  it  is  used  so  early  in  deeds  and  wills  as 
to  fairly  imply  that  it  dates  from  the  second  or  third 
generation.     Its  appropriateness  is  striking.     At  the 


mumtt  Q^itain*  29 

end  of  Mifflin's  Lane,  and  in  a  semicircle  of  fine  old 
trees,  whose  branches  must  have  swept  its  roof,  stood 
the  Mifflin  home,  while  a  few  feet  from  its  door  was 
a    large    spring    of    clear,  pure  water.     The  spring 
remains,  walled   up,  it   is   true,  and   architecturally 
beautified  to  suit  the  purposes  of  a  city  park,  but  all 
that  is  left  of  the  house  is  a  pile  or  two  of  crumbled 
bricks  and  a  few  scattered  foundation  stones,  the  rest 
being  probably  imbedded  in  the  remarkably  natural 
grotto  which  surrounds  the  spring.     This  house,  of 
which  at  this  day  only  the  vaguest  descriptions  can  be 
obtained,  remained  in  the  possession  of  a  branch  of 
the  family  imtil  1806.    For  years  prior  to  this  time  it 
was  the  country  residence  of  Colonel  Jonathan  Mif- 
flin, of   the   fifth   generation,  one  of   the  wealthiest 
members    of   the   family,  and   who   must   be  distin- 
guished from  hLs  equally  wealthy  relative  of  the  same 
name,  known  as  Jonathan  the  "Histwian,"  and  of 
the  third  generation,  wlio  owned  a  house  on  German- 
town  Ptoad,  which  was  destroyed  by  the  British  dur- 
ing  the    Kevolution.     About   the    time    mentioned. 
Colonel  Jonathan  Mifflin  met  with  severe  losses  to  his 
merchant  vessels  trading  with  China  and  India,  by 
French  spoliations.     Fountain  Green  was    sacrificed 
with  most  of  his  other  property  in  payment  of  his 
debts,  and   he   moved   to    Columbia   on  the  Susque- 
hanna, where  he  died,  leaving  his  claims  against  an 
unjust    government,    and    the    traditions    clustering 
about  Fountain  Green,  as  almost  his  only  legacies  to 


30  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

his  children.  Could  the  history  of  the  property  pause 
here,  it  would  perhaps  be  more  desirable.  The  ideas 
susrirested  bv  such  a  beautiful  countrv-place,  the  home 
of  six  successive  generations  of  the  same  familv,  held 
by  a  title  antedating  that  of  Penn  himself,  surrounded 
by  other  similar  places,  and  only  a  few  miles  from  all 
the  gay  and  fashionable  world  of  a  large  city,  must 
have  been  attractive  even  to  this  family  of  Friends. 
But  the  reverses  of  fortune  were  soon  to  cause  the 
destruction  of  the  homestead  by  fire,  communicated 
by  sparks  from  an  engine  on  the  new  railroad,  and, 
later,  Fountain  Green,  like  the  adjoining  estates  of 
Sedgeley  and  Rockland,  which  had  previously  been 
carved  out  of  the  original  property,  became  a  part  of 
Fairmount  Park.  The  southeastern  line  of  the 
original  grant,  as  has  been  said,  was  Mifflin's  Lane. 
The  northeastern  was  about  the  line  of  the  Ridge 
Road,  from  which  point  the  northwestern  extended 
to  the  Schuylkill  at  a  point  near  the  Rockland  Land- 
ing, and  the  southwestern  boundary  followed  the 
windings  of  the  Schuylkill  to  the  point  where  Mif- 
flin's Lane  ran  down  to  the  river,  perhaps  a  couple  of 
hundred  yards  above  the  tunnel  through  Promontory 
Rock.^ 

From  a  document  entitled  "  Returns  of  Inhabitants 
and  Lands  owned  and  Improved  in  portions  of  Phila- 

'  The  descent  of  Fountain  Green  as  traced  in  the  public 
records  will  be  found  stated  in  detail  in  the  sketch  of  Colonel 
Jonathan  Mifflin,  xvfra. 


matnet  ^imUu  3i 

delphia  County,  at  the  order  of  three  Justices  of  the 
Peace,  (dated  2  mo.  14,  1C83,  O.  S.),  to  be  executed 
betwixt  this   and  three   weeks  hence,"  '  it   appears 

that — 

John  Meefelon,  aged  45  years,  hath  3  hundred  ackers  of 
land  &  hath  Improved  10  ackers. 

John  Meefelon,  the  younger,  aged  22  years. 

This  indicates  that  father  and  son  promptly  applied 
themselves  to  tlie  work  of  providing  a  home.  It  is 
likely  that  they  soon  built  a  more  commodious  house, 
for  the  will  of  John,  junior,  dated  1713,  devises  to 
his  wife  Elizabeth  "  all  that  messuage,  tenement, 
plantation  and  tract  of  land  where  he  then  lived,  with 
the  other  buildings  and  improvements,  with  all  the 
negroes  and  other  servants  and  all  the  stock  and 
creatures  remaining  on  and  belonging  to  the  plan- 
tation." And  an  old  map  of  Philadelphia  and  its 
^-icinity,^  published  in  1750,  and  giving  the  names  of 
many  householders,  shows  a  house  of  some  dimen- 
sions for  that  period  located  at  a  short  distance  from 
the  river. 

In  the  meantime  the  son  had  married  Elizabeth 
Hardy,  from  Darby,  in  Old  England.  She  came  the 
year  when  William  Penn  first  anived,  "  and  the  ship 
discharged  at  the  mouth  of  Darby  Creek  and  wintered 
there,  the  people  generally  settling  thereabouts  and 
called  the  place  Darby  Town,  soon  after  which  John 

^ "  Pennsylvania  Magazine,"  vol.  VTT.,  p.  lOG. 

» "  Westcott  &  Scharf's  "  History  of  Philadelphia,"  vol.  I. 


32  Life  anti  ancestrp  of 

Mifflin,  the  son,  became  acquainted  with  her,  she 
being  settled  about  four  or  five  miles  from  his  habita- 
tion, and  from  that  acquaintance  a  marriage  between 
them  was  solemnized  in  a  meeting-house  of  Friends 
at  Chester,  or  near  it. 

"  John  Mifflin,  the  younger,  &  Elizabeth  Hardy,  on 
the  6th  day  of  the  12th  month,  1683-4,  at  the  house 
of  Henry  Lewis,  near  Schuylkill,  where  a  consider- 
able number  of  Friends  met,  consummated  their  mar- 
riage two  months  after  their  first  appearance  & 
fixing  up  public  notice  of  their  intention  for  one 
month,  according  to  Law. 

"  Some  time  after  this  marriage  the  wife  of  John, 
the  elder,  came  from  England.  She  died  soon  after 
her  arrival  here,  after  a  short  illness.  John,  the  elder, 
afterwards  moved  over  the  Schuylkill  to  Merion,  and 
married  a  second  wife,  who  survived  him,  he  dying 
upwards  of  70  years  old."  ^ 

No  record  can  be  foimd  to  show  the  name  of  John 
Mifflin,  senior's,  first  wife,  nor  the  maiden  name  of 
his  second.  As  already  mentioned,  John  Mifflin, 
senior,  conveys  to  Eleanor,  his  wife,  in  1693,  the 
original  plantation,  and  Eleanor  joins  with  John  in  a 
conveyance  to  their  son  in  1698,  and  since  the  will  of 
John  Mifflin,  senior,  dated  in  1715,  and  proved  in 
1716,  mentions  his  wife  Eleanor,  there  is  little  time 

^  See  account  of  the  Mifflin  family,  by  Jonathan  ^Mifflin,  the 
youngest  son  of  John  Mifflin,  Junior,  and  surnamed  the  "  His- 
torian "  by  l)ia  descendants. 


mntntt  Mifflin*  33 

left  for  another  marriage.  Nevertheless,  the  accu- 
racy of  the  statements,  so  far  as  they  could  be  veri- 
fied, in  "  An  Account  of  the  Mifflin  Family,  written 
by  Jonathan  Mifflin,  senior,  on  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1770,"  must  leave  this  matter  in  some  doubt, 
unless  we  presume  that  Eleanor  was  the  name  of  the 
second  wife  and  that  their  marriage  took  place 
between  1684  and  1693,  which  does  not  seem  improb- 
able. 


AN  ACCOUKT  OF  THE  MIFFLIN  FAMILY, 

WEriTEN  BY  JOT^ATTTAX  MIFFLIN,  SENIOR,  ON  THE 
FIFTEENTH  OF  SEPTEMBER,    1770.^ 

John  Mifflin,  the  father,  and  John  Mifflin,  the  son, 
moved  from  Wiltshire,  Old  England,  to  America 
between  the  years  1676  and  1679,  the  son  being 
up\yards  of  16  years  of  age.  They  lived  some  time 
among  the  Swedes'  settlements  on  the  banks  of  the 
Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  until  they  fixed  on  a  tract 
of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Schuylkill,  on  the 
river,  which  they  took  on  the  Duke  of  York's  Rite, 
the  writing  being  dated  from  the  Court  of  Upland, 
near  Marcus  Hook  or  Chester,  in  the  year  1679,  called 
300  acres,  but  in  the  year  168 —  was  remeasured  and 
a  patent  taken  under  William  Pcnn  and  called  270 
acres,  granted  to  the  father  and  son  jointly,  on  which 
they  were  settled  then  on  a  small  building  near  the 
water  side. 

Elizabeth  Hardy,  then  about  25,  came  over  from 
Darby,  of  Old  England,  with  a  shipload  of  Darbyshire 
people.  The  same  year  William  Penn  came  first,  and 
the  ship  discharged  at  the  mouth  of  Darby  Creek  and 
wintered  there,  the  people  generally  settling  there- 
about, and  called  the  place  Darby  Town.    Soon  after 

'  From  J.  H.  Merrill,  pp.  35-37,  "  Memoranda  Relating  to  the 
Mifflin  Family." 

34 


COatnet  Q^itflin,  35 

whicli  John  Mifflin,  the  son,  became  acquainted  with 
her,  she  being  settled  about  four  or  five  miles  from  his 
habitation,  and  from  that  acquaintance  a  marriage 
between  them  was  solemnized  in  a  meeting  house  of 
Friends,  at  Chester,  or  near  it. 

John  Mifflin,  the  younger,  and  Elizabeth  Hardy, 
on  the  6th  day  of  the  12th  month,  1683  or  4,  at  the 
house  of  Henrs'  Lewis,  near  Schuylkill,  where  a  con- 
siderable number  of  friends  met,  consummated  their 
marriage  two  months  after  their  first  appearance  and 
fixing  up  public  notice  of  their  intention  for  one 
month,  according  to  law. 

Some  time  after  this  marriage  the  wife  of  John, 
the  elder,  came  from  England.  She  died  soon  after 
her  arrival  here,  after  a  short  illness.  Some  time 
afterwards  the  old  man  removed  over  the  Schuylkill 
to  Merion  and  married  a  second  wife,  who  survived 
him,  he  d^-ing  upwards  of  70  years  old. 

On  the  father's  removal  the  son  became  possessed 
of  the  whole  tract  by  purchase,  where  he  resided  with 
his  vriie  and  family  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  54:, 
in  the  year  1714,  leading  issue  Edward,  George,  John, 
Elizabeth,  Patience,  Jane,  Samuel  and  Jonathan,  at 
which  time  Elizabeth  had  been  married  some  years 
and  George  about  one  year. 

By  his  will  the  widow  held  the  plantation  and  stock 
during  her  life,  to  bring  up  the  younger  children,  the 
youngest  being  but  ten  years  old,  and  after  her  death 
the   plantation   to   be   divided   among  his   children, 


36  Life  anD  ^nttmv  of 

besides  which  he  gave  them  portions:  Edward  a  lot 
of  land  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  south  side 
of  High  Street  (now  in  the  tenure  of  John  Dunlap 
and  remains  in  the  possession  of  the  family) ;  and  next 
a  lot  adjoining  to  George,  and  next  lot  to  that  to  John 
(which  George  purchasing  built  on  them  both,  one  of 
which  buildings  still  remains  in  his  name),  with  per- 
sonal legacies  to  the  others. 

Edward  married  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he 
died  leaving  issue  John,  Daniel,  Southe,  Samuel,  and 
a  granddaughter  by  his  only  daughter  who  died 
before  him.  Edward  died  about  the  year  1743,  aged 
near  GO.  George  died  about  the  age  of  70,  in  the 
year  1758,  leaving  issue  John  Mifflin  and  Sarah  Mif- 
flin, and  a  grandson  Charles  by  his  son  George,  who 
died  before  his  father.  John  Mifflin,  the  third  son, 
died  early  in  life,  leaving  issue  two  sons,  Benjamin 
and  John  (now  living).  Elizabeth  died  early,  leaving 
four  sons.  Patience  died  soon  after  her  father,  in  her 
youth,  Jane  soon  after,  in  child-bed,  leaving  a  daugh- 
ter. Samuel  died  single,  about  the  26th  year  of  his 
age.  Jonathan  married  young,  in  the  year  1723, 
leaving  issue  son  Samuel  (now  living);  a  daughter 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  the  year  1759,  leaving  a  son 
and  three  daughters;  Sarah,  who  died  in  the  year 
1769,  or  1770,  leaving  four  sons  and  two  daughters, 
and  Patience,  at  this  time  living  and  married. 

The  \\Titer  of  the  above,  being  still  living,  hath 
added  to  the  above,  which  he  wrote  about  the  year 


1770,  tliat  he  learned  sometliing  by  information 
about  the  family  and  other  parts  otherwise,  that  as 
far  as  it  goes  is  undoubtedly  fact :  and  this  day  on 
reading  it  just  takes  occasion  to  mention  that  Patience 
is  now  also  deceased  upwards  of  two  years,  having 
buried  her  husband,  Isaac  Paschal,  about  six  months 
and  left  two  daughters,  now  living,  Mnth  month  15, 
1776. 

(Signed)         Jona'^  Mifflin. 


A  BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTE  ON  WARNER 
MIFFLIN. 

BY  SAEAH  MIFFLIN  GAY. 

Warner  !Mifflin,  reformer  and  prominent  member 
of  the  Society  of  Friends,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  AYarner  Mifflin.  He  was  born  in  Aceomac 
County,  Ya.,  in  1745,  and  died  at  Chestnut  Grove, 
16th  October,  1798,  He  was  the  great-great-grand- 
son of  John  Mifflin,  of  AVarminster,  AYiltshire,  Eng- 
land, who  with  his  son  John  came  to  America  prior  to 
1679.  They  are  first  heard  of  at  Burlington,  N.  J., 
but  subsequentl}',  in  1680,  they  took  up  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Schuylkill 
on  the  Duke  of  York's  patent.  This  grant  was  con- 
firmed by  AVilliam  Penn  in  1681:.  The  tract  was 
called  Fountain  Green,  and  is  now  part  of  Fairmount 
Park. 

Warner  Mifflin  was  early  interested  in  the  slaves, 
and  in  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  The  Defence  of  Warner 
Mifflin  Against  Aspersions  cast  on  him  on  Account 
of  his  endeavours  to  Promote  Righteousness,  Mercy 
and  Peace  Among  Mankind,"  he  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  his  conversion  to  anti-slavery  views 
through  a  conversation  ^vith  one  of  his  father's  slaves. 
He  "  determined  never  to  be  a  slave-owner."    Yet  he 

38 


(KJatnet  Q^ifflin*  39 

became  possessed  of  slaves  through  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth Johns,  and  of  others,  from  among  his  father's, 
who  followed  him  into  Delaware.  Convinced,  how- 
ever, that  he  would  "  be  excluded  from  happiness  if 
he  continued  in  this  breach  of  the  Divine  Law  "  he 
freed  all  his  slaves  in  1774  and  1775,  and  his  father 
followed  his  example.  Thomas  Clarkson,  the  leader 
and  historian  of  the  anti-slavery  movement  in  Eng- 
land, said  of  Warner  Mifflin  that  "  he  was  the  first 
man  in  America  to  unconditionally  emancipate  his 
slaves."  From  this  time  until  his  death  his  efforts 
to  bring  about  emancipation  were  untiring.  Through 
his  labors  most  of  the  members  of  his  Society  liber- 
ated their  slaves.  He  traveled  from  State  to  State 
preaching  his  anti-slavery  doctrines  among  his  people, 
and  in  the  course  of  his  life  visited  all  the  Yearly 
Meetings  on  the  continent.  In  1782  he  appeared 
before  the  legislature  of  Virginia,  and  was  instru- 
mental in  having  a  law  enacted  that  admitted  of 
emancipation.  In  1783  he  presented  a  memorial  to 
Congress  respecting  the  African  slave-trade,  and  he 
subsequently  visited,  in  the  furtherance  of  his  work, 
the  legislatures  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Dela- 
ware. In  1791  he  presented  his  noted  "  Memorial  to 
the  President,  the  Senate  and  the  House  of  Kepresen- 
tatives  of  the  United  States  "  on  the  subject  of  slav- 
ery, and  published  a  short  time  afterward  his 
''  Serious  Expostulation   with   the   members   of  the 


40  mamtt  9^imm 

House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States,"  in 
relation  to  the  principles  of  liberty,  and  the  inconsis- 
tency and  cruelty  of  the  slave-trade  and  slavery. 

As  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  Warner 
Mifflin  was  opposed  to  war.  He  was  chosen  by  his 
people  to  present  their  views  to  Generals  Howe  and 
Washington.  He  traversed  the  British  lines  without 
a  passport,  and  subsequently  made  his  way  to  General 
Washington,  undaunted  by  the  hatred  of  the  Ameri- 
cans for  the  Quakers  and  in  danger  of  being  treated 
as  a  spy. 

He  also  bore  testimony  in  favor  of  temperance,  and 
consistently  with  his  peace  principles  refused  to  han- 
dle the  continental  currency  issued  in  aid  of  the  Revo- 
lution. 

He  died  of  yellow  fever,  caught  while  ministering 
to  the  victims  of  the  epidemic  in  Philadelphia. 


ANECDOTE  OF  WARXER  MIFFLIX, 

FROM    "  THE    LETIEES    OF    AN    A:MERICAX    FAKiTEE."  ^ 
BY  HECTOR  ST.  JOHX  DE  CREVECCEUR. 

The  great  military  discipline  of  the  British  army, 
and  the  victorv  of  the  battle  of  the  Brandj'wine, 
finally  opened  the  doors  of  Philadelphia  to  General 
Howe.  His  march  from  the  head  of  the  Elk,  as  well 
as  his  sojourn  in  this  capital,  were  marked  by  fires, 
depredations,  and  the  ruin  of  a  large  number  of  fami- 
lies; those  who  were  farther  removed  from  the  scene 
of  the  war  opening  their  houses  to  those  unfortunates 
who  had  been  recently  despoiled. 

During  these  occurrences  the  Society  of  Friends  of 
the  three  counties  of  Kent,  Newcastle  and  Sussex 
(Delaware),  held,  according  to  custom,  its  Poor  Meet- 
ing, whose  object  is  to  collect  the  contributions  for 
charity  of  all  its  members,  in  order  to  maintain  in  the 
treasury  the  funds  necessary  to  help  the  poor  and  the 
unfortunate  in  their  extremitj^.  Impressed  with  the 
disasters  of  a  war  that  they  had  never  seen  near  their 
homes,  these  good  people  doubled  their  charitable  sub- 
scriptions; but  even  this  abundant  help  was  soon 
exhausted,  so  great  was  the  number  of  unfortunates. 
To  the  most  needy  they  sent  all  that  they  had,  and 

'Vol.   I.,   Paris,    1787,   pp.    197   to   222.     Penna.   Hist.   Soc. 
Translated  by  Hilda  Justice. 

41 


42  Life  anD  ^ncesttp  of 

shed  tears  over  the  fate  of  those  whom  they  could  not 
help. 

Several  of  the  Elders  got  into  their  coaches,  and  for 
whole  weeks  together  traveled  incessantly  from  plan- 
tation to  plantation  gathering  in  all  the  bacon,  flour 
and  other  provisions,  which  the  charity  of  the  Col- 
onists procured  for  them.  You  would  be  astonished 
at  the  sums  of  money  and  the  quantity  of  goods  and 
useful  things  which  were  thus  gathered  in  from  fields 
already  half-destroyed  by  English  rapacity. 

"While  they  were  thus  occupied,  the  spirit  moved 
them  (to  use  their  phrase)  to  send  a  deputation  from 
their  body  to  the  English  General,  to  try  to  obtain 
from  him  greater  attention  to  the  discipline  of  his 
army,  and  an  armistice  to  last  at  least  during  the 
winter. 

TTarner  Mifilin  was  chosen.  The  dangers  and  difiB.- 
culties  of  the  undertaking,  far  from  intimidating  him, 
made  him  accept  with  joy  the  commission  offered  him 
— for  whoever  should  decline  to  perform  a  good  deed, 
become  from  that  moment  a  duty,  would  incur  the 
reproach  of  cowardice  before  men,  and  of  a  crime  in 
the  eyes  of  the  Supreme  Being. 

You  may  perhaps  imagine  that  one  of  the  Ameri- 
can Generals  gave  him  some  credentials.  Xo,  my 
friend,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Quakers  these  precautions 
would  show  timidity  in  the  undertaking  of  good 
works,  and  would  cause  them  to  endorse  in  a  measure 
the  great  crime  of  war. 


maxntt  ^itHin,  43 

Sure  of  the  esteem  of  the  body  by  whom  he  was 
chosen,  animated  by  the  hope  of  the  good  he  should 
do  his  country  if  successful,  Warner  Mifflin  started. 
He  carried  with  him  only  the  letters  which  announced 
to  his  parents  in  Philadelphia  the  resolutions  adopted 
by  the  Quaker  Meetings  of  the  three  counties  of 
Kent,  ]N'ewcastle  and  Sussex,  and  the  choice  made  by 
this  assembly  of  Warner  Mifflin. 

In  the  American  army  there  was  a  General  of  the 
same  name  of  Mifflin  (the  Major-General  Thomas 
Mifflin).  The  latter,  before  the  war,  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Society;  but  after  using  his  eloquence  to 
arouse  his  fellow-citizens,  he  was  obliged  to  abate  the 
force  of  his  religious  sentiments,  to  take  arms  and 
defend  his  country. 

Having  arrived  at  the  first  English  outposts,  War- 
ner Mifflin  was  seized  and  led  before  the  officer  in 
command. 

"  Who  are  you,  and  where  are  you  going?  "  he  was 
asked. 

"  My  name  is  Warner  Mifflin,  and  I  am  going  to 
Philadelphia." 

"  Mifflin,  Mifflin,"  said  the  officer,  "  it  seems  to  me 
there  is  a  certain  Thomas  Mifflin,  who  calls  himself 
General,  in  the  Rebel  army.  Is  he  perhaps  related 
to  you?" 

"  Yes,  my  friend,  he  is  my  first  cousin.  Does  that 
seem  to  thee  a  crime?  " 

"  How   do   you    dare   to  call  me  your  friend,  you 


44  Life  and  ^ncestrp  of 

notorious  rebel?  Soldiers,  take  this  hvpocrite  to  the 
guard-bouse,  till  we  can  take  him  to  the  Sberiff,  to  be 
hung  when  his  turn  comes.  There  you  will  see  a 
great  many  rebels  who  tried,  under  the  guise  of 
humility  and  Quaker  simplicity,  to  slip  through  the 
British  lines  and  act  as  spies." 

"  In  spite  of  all  thee  says,  I  am  not  a  spy ;  perhaps 
I  may  be  allowed  to  prove  it." 

"  To  prove  it !  "  said  the  Captain,  "  oh,  don't  expect 
that !  The  trial  of  such  a  rebel  as  you  is  soon  over — 
a  rope,  a  nail,  or  a  branch,  and  two  good  soldiers  to 
hoist  it — that  is  all  we  need." 

''  Why,  my  friend,  does  thee  insult  a  man  whom 
thee  does  not  know?  TVTiy  accuse  him  of  a  crime  of 
which  thee  is  not  sure  i  "Why  threaten  him  with  a 
punishment  he  does  not  deserve?  Am  I  not  thy 
brother?" 

"I  your  brother?  God  preserve  me  from  such  an 
alliance.  I  am  your  enemy,  that  is  what  I  am,  and, 
as  I  live,  you  shall  know  it,  you  and  yours.  To-day, 
since  the  King  has  taken  you  from  under  the  cloak  of 
his  protection,  and  has  declared  you  rebels,  you  de- 
serve to  be  hung,  you  and  your  women  and  children. 
Yes,  you  deserve  it  on  the  proclamation  alone  of 
George  IH." 

"  Thy  King  must  be  very  cruel,"  said  Warner  Mif- 
flin, "  to  condemn  to  death  so  many  people  who  have 
never  done  him  any  harm." 

"  Our  King  is  the  most  just  and  the  most  magnani- 


Weixntx  Mifflin,  45 

moiis  of  all  the  kings  of  the  earth;  he  wants  to  clear 
the  country  of  the  seed  of  republicanism,  of  these 
descendants  of  old  Oliver  (Cromwell),  to  repeople  it 
with  men  who  will  always  be  faithful  to  him." 

'■  Of  what  men  does  thee  speak?  "  asked  Warner, 

"  Of  the  brave  Scotch,"  replied  the  officer. 

"  How  is  it  that  your  country  has  become  so  at- 
tached to  the  House  of  Bnms\nck?  Have  you  en- 
tirely forgotten  the  Stuarts  ?  " 

"  They  forgot  themselves,  and  never  deserved  the 
blood  our  ancestors  shed  for  them."  (It  was  an  Eng- 
lishman who  was  speaking.) 

"Tell  me,  noble  Scot,  would  thy  nation  like  to  come 
and  strangle  us  under  the  flags  of  thy  King,  with  the 
intention  of  occupying  the  houses,  tilling  the  fields, 
mowing  the  meadows,  that  we  have  bought  so  dearly 
at  the  price  of  our  work  and  our  sweat?  " 

"  And  why  not,  monsieur  the  American?  You  are 
the  Canaanites,  accursed  of  God;  and  we  are  the 
chosen  people." 

"  Oh !  my  dear  Scot,  the  Jews  did  many  things  it  is 
not  wise  to  copy." 

"  Soldiers,  take  this  man  to  the  guard-house — he 
talks  too  much — and  put  hand-cuffs  on  him.  This 
will  no  doubt  be  the  first  pair  of  cuffs  this  Quaker 
gentleman  has  ever  had  on." 

After  having  been  the  butt  of  the  jokes  and  the 
insolence  of  all  the  soldiers,  he  was  taken  the  follow- 
ing day  to  the  Provost-Marshal ;  but  as,  on  searching 


46  Life  anD  anccsitrp  of 

him,  two  letters  were  found,  addressed  to  persons  sus- 
pected to  be  Whigs  (Republicans),  he  was  thrown 
into  a  dark  cell,  and  the  letters  were  sent  to  the 
Adjutant. 

Here  thej  lay  for  a  long  time,  forgotten;  for  the 
most  senseless  pleasures,  high  living,  and  the  most 
licentious  debauches  occupied  the  officers'  leisure  to 
such  an  extent  that  they  had  scarcely  time  to  attend 
to  current  affairs.  Seventeen  days  later,  by  the 
merest  chance,  the  letters  fell  into  the  hands  of  Sir 
William  Howe.  He  thought  that  he  saw  something 
very  mysterious  in  their  contents.  This  idea  smoth- 
ering his  indolence  for  the  moment,  he  ordered  the 
prisoner  in  whose  pockets  the  letters  were  found  to  be 
brought  before  him.  He  was  taken  to  the  General's 
room,  wearing  his  hat  on  his  head.  Sir  William 
Howe,  a  little  surprised  by  this  unusual  custom,  asked 
him  if  his  name  was  Warner  Mifflin. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  friend  William  Howe,  that  is  my 
name." 

"  Where  do  you  come  from?  " 

"  From  the  Provost-Marshal." 

"  Where  had  you  come  from  when  you  were  taken 
to  him?" 

"  From  Kent  County." 

"  Why  have  you  come  here  ?  " 

"  To  speak  with  thee." 

At  this  point  Colonel  Balfour,  first  aide  de  camp, 
observing  that  this  man  had  the  audacity  to  keep  his 


hat  on  before  his  superior,  filled  with  military  preju- 
dices, he  hastily  approached  the  Quaker,  and  taking 
his  hat  off,  said  angrily :  '*  Understand,  you  churl,  that 
no  one  speaks  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
British  anuy,  with  his  hat  on,  and  much  less  a  rebel 
and  a  prisoner  like  you." 

"  How  does  thee  expect  me  to  know  thy  customs," 
said  Warner  [Mifflin,  '*  when  I  have  never  seen  an 
English  General,  and  have  all  my  life  kept  my  hat  on 
my  head  before  my  neighbors  and  my  friends;  the  hat 
which  so  offends  thee  is  nevertheless  but  a  part  of  my 
clothing.    Shall  I  also  take  off  my  coat  ?  ■ ' 

"  Colonel  Balfour,  suspend  your  rebuke,"  said  the 
General.  ''  Mr.  Mifflin,  do  the  men  of  your  sect  al- 
ways keep  their  hats  on  their  heads  through  conscien- 
tious scruples? " 

"  ^o,  friend  Howe;  it  is  the  custom  of  our  Society, 
which,  looking  upon  all  men  as  brothers,  teaches  us 
that  we  owe  them  only  good-mil  and  the  sincerity  of 
our  hearts,  expressed  through  a  handshake,  with  no 
outward  salutations." 

"  You  astonish  me  very  mucli,  Mr.  Mifflin.  I 
thought  you  were  so  attached  to  this  custom  that  I 
believed  it  to  be  founded  on  motives  of  conscience." 

"  It  is  not,  friend  William;  but  tell  me,  was  thee 
offended  that  I  spoke  to  thee  with  my  hat  on?  That 
was  not  my  intention.  I  presented  myself  before 
thee  as  we  present  ourselves  before  our  brothers,  as 
we  present  ourselves  even  before  God,  when  we  go 


48  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

to  Meeting  to  implore  His  mercy  and  to  await  the 
influence  of  His  Spirit.  Can  the  treatment  which  I 
liave  received  from  thy  aide  add  anything  to  thy 
honor  or  to  thy  power?  " 

"  My  aide  meant  well,  Mr.  Mifflin;  but  whether  you 
wear  your  hat  or  not  makes  no  difference  to  me;  I 
exact  from  you  nothing  but  clear  and  precise  answers 
to  my  questions." 

Warner  Mifflin,  quietly  putting  on  his  hat  again, 
said  to  Howe  that  he  might  depend  on  the  truth  of 
what  he  should  tell  him;  that  the  General's  questions 
would  give  him  the  more  pleasure,  because  they 
would  give  him  an  opportunity  to  explain  the  reasons 
which  forced  him  to  come  to  Philadelphia  to  speak 
with  him. 

"  To  speak  with  me  ?  Why,  who  are  you  ?  Who 
sent  you? " 

"  I  am  a  farmer  of  Kent  County.  I  am  sent  by  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  the  three  counties  of  Kent,  ISTew- 
castle  and  Sussex." 

"  What,  a  farmer  sent  by  the  Quaker  Meetings? 
The  farming  gentlemen  of  these  coimties  and  their 
Meetings  choose  a  very  bad  time,  for  I  find  myself 
obliged  to  be  their  enemy.  What  do  these  Meetings 
want  of  me?    "WHiat  do  you  yourself  want  of  me?  " 

''  As  thee  is  English  it  may  be  that  thee  knows  that 
the  Society  of  Friends  never  has  anything  to  do  with 
war,  nor  with  any  contentions,  public  or  private. 
Quarrels  are  forbidden  us  by  the  Bible,  which  enjoins 


us  to  look  upon  all  men  as  brothers;  but  in  recom- 
mending peace  and  brotherly  love,  the  Bible  com- 
mands us  also  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  hinder  and 
oppose  this  evil.  Our  brethren  of  the  three  counties, 
united  in  our  Poor  fleeting  (meetings  held  every 
month  to  care  for  the  needs  of  their  poor,  and  help 
the  unfortunate),  believed  that  it  might  be  possible  to 
obtain  an  interview  between  thee  and  friend  George 
Washington;  that  this  interview  might  result  in 
arranging  for  the  means  of  obtaining  an  armistice,  at 
least  during  the  winter;  that  this  armistice  might  lead 
to  a  friendly  understanding,  and  the  restoration  of 
peace.  Persuaded  that  this  idea  is  salut-ary  and  holy, 
through  obedience  to  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit, 
whence  come  all  good  thoughts,  as  well  as  the  good  we 
do,  they  appointed 'me  to  communicate  this  to  thee. 
WTiat  does  thee  think  of  it,  friend  Howe?  " 

"  I  approve  of  the  idea  of  your  Quakers;  it  seems  a 
noble  one,  and  may  prove  useful;  whether  it  succeeds 
or  not,  it  vnW  gain  honor  for  you  at  my  hands,  and 
will  serve  to  confirm  the  good  opinion  I  have  always 
held  of  your  sect.  I  like  to  see  that  those  who  do  not 
take  part  in  war  try  to  soften  its  horrors,  and  busy 
themselves  with  the  means  of  re-establishing  peace. 
But  things  are  not  equal  between  General  "Washing- 
ton and  me;  in  four  days  he  can  receive  his  orders 
from  Congress,  while  it  takes  several  months  for  me 
to  receive  those  of  the  King.  If,  however,  we  might 
see   each   other.   I  should   gladly  agree   to   a   short 

4 


50  Life  anD  ^nce^ttp  of 

armistice  that  might  give  our  troops  time  to  relax  and 
to  enjoy  a  little  rest.  1  see  by  the  contents  of  your 
letters  that  you  have  hidden  nothing  from  me,  and 
that  they  were  written  merely  to  inform  your  friends 
of  the  resolution  passed  by  your  ^Meeting  and  of  your 
generous  undertaking;  stay  to  dine  with  me;  after  the 
meal  I  will  see  that  the  necessary  papers  are  drawn 
up  for  your  journey." 

"  I  will  dine  with  thee  since  thee  wishes  it ;  but  I 
cannot  receive  tliy  passports." 

"  And  why  not,  Mr.  Mifflin?  " 

"  Because  we  should  become  guilty  of  the  great 
crimes  occasioned  by  war,  in  providing  ourselves 
with  passports  and  military  privileges.  I  shall  be  able 
to  pass  out  of  thy  lines  as  I  entered  them;  the  good 
work  I  am  doing  will  take  me  everywhere,  I  feel  sure, 
and  will  give  me  the  courage  I  shall  need  to  endure 
the  accidents  that  may  befall  me." 

"What  strange  principles!  What!  you  prefer  to 
expose  yourself  to  the  insults  of  the  soldiers,  to  prison, 
to  scorn,  rather  than  take  papers  to  protect  you? 
These  principles  are  not  well  considered,  Mr.  Mifflin; 
they  are  contrary  to  nature  and  the  inner  feelings, 
which  dictate  self-preservation." 

''  I  am  sorry  thee  does  not  approve  them,  friend 
Howe ;  they  are  nevertheless  the  foundation  on  which 
our  Society  rests;  we  sealed  them  more  than  once 
with  our  blood ;  we  upheld  them  in  times  of  the  most 
cruel  persecutions;  if  thee  does  not  approve  them,  at 


mnxntt  ^imin,  si 

least  do  not  scorn  them;  they  are  founded  on  the  love 
of  peace  and  concord,  and  on  our  horror  of  war,  the 
worst  of  evils." 

"  But  if  anything  serious  should  happen  to  you, 
Mr.  Mifilin,  what  would  you  do?  " 

"  I  should  endure  its  severity,  I  hope,  with  calm- 
ness and  courage." 

"  Calmness  and  courage?  \Yhere  would  you  find 
them?" 

"  In  my  conscience,  and  in  the  firm  conviction  that 
no  temporal  obstacles  should  prevent  me  from  doing 
good." 

''  And  if  I  should  station  soldiers  at  the  door  of  one 
of  your  Meetings,  •^dth  orders  not  to  allow  you  to 
enter  on  pain  of  death,  what  would  you  do?  " 

''  If  I  believed  that  the  Spirit  commanded  me  to  go, 
m.y  duty  would  then  be  not  to  resist  this  inspiration;  I 
should  go  at  the  risk  of  my  life." 

"  Then  the  Quakers  believe  themselves  to  be 
directly  inspired?  " 

"  And  why  not,  friend  Howe  ?  Thee  is  so  thyself 
every  time  thee  has  good  thoughts  in  thy  mind. 
What  absurdity  is  there  in  thinking  that  good 
thoughts  come  from  heaven,  as  from  the  main  source 
of  all  that  is  good?  "Wbat  harm  is  there  in  believing 
that  every  good  genius  may  be  capable  of  receiving  a 
feeble  ray  of  that  great  light  that  illumines  all  men 
who  do  not  voluntarily  close  their  eyes  to  it?  This, 
friend  Howe,  is  not  a  new  maxim;  I  could  prove  its 


52  life  anti  ancestrp  of 

truth  to  thee  by  the  writings  of  St.  Paul,  of  the  Em- 
peror ^larcus  xVntonius,  of  Epictetus,  and  of  several 
other  great  men." 

"  You  seem  to  me  to  be  a  learned  scholar,  Mr.  Mif- 
flin; I  am  not  surprised  that  your  Meetings  should 
have  chosen  such  a  man  as  you." 

"I  am  far  from  being  learned;  I  possess  nothing 
but  the  science  of  common  sense,  a  school  education, 
and  the  fruits  of  experience." 

"  Your  principles  may  be  useful  in  the  shade  of 
your  orchard,  in  the  midst  of  quiet  and  peace;  never- 
theless, I  cannot  help  thinking  them  useless,  and  even 
dangerous,  in  a  society  that  can  only  maintain  itself 
by  perpetual  effort,  that  is,  by  its  fleets  and  its 
armies." 

"  I  have  not  come  here  to  dispute,  or  to  change  thy 
opinions,  friend  William  Howe;  as  to  my  opinion,  it 
is  the  most  sacred,  the  most  indelible,  of  all  those 
which  make  up  my  moral  character;  since  thee  has 
accepted  the  proposition  I  made  to  thee,  I  ^vill  with- 
draw, to  continue  my  journey." 

"  No,  Mr.  Mifflin,  you  must  dine  with  me,  and  you 
shall  be  respected  at  my  table  as  you  desei-ve  to  be.  I 
am  told  you  have  emancipated  all  your  slaves — is  that 
true?" 

"  I  did  nothing  but  what  I  ought  to  do." 

"  But  this  emancipation  must  have  cost  you  a  great 
deal." 


matntx  ^imin,  53 

"  There  still  remains  a  sufficient  fortune  for  me, 
and  I  am  satisfied." 

"  I  have  also  been  told  that  you  gave  the  wool  of 
five  hundred  sheep  to  those  who  lost  theirs  by  the 
English  troops." 

"  Since  all  men  are  brothers,  why  should  not  those 
who  are  in  more  comfortable  circumstances  share  their 
wealth  ^^-ith  those  whom  the  war  has  ruined?  There 
is  more  true  joy  than  one  thinks  in  doing  good." 

*'  By  what  chance  did  you  save  your  o^^^l?  " 

"  By  means  of  an  island  that  I  own;  I  hid  them  in 
the  woods  of  this  island,  at  the  time  when  thy  brother 
(Admiral  Howe)  came  up  the  river  with  his  fleet." 

*'  I  have  infinite  respect  for  you,  Mr.  Mifflin,  and 
these  two  generous  actions  would  make  me  your 
friend  for  all  my  life,  if  we  were  at  peace  and  neigh- 
bors.    Would   to    God  that  all  Americans  were  like 

you." 

"  Friend  William,  this  might  perhaps  be  unfor- 
tunate for  Great  Britain." 

"  And  why,  pray,  Mr.  :SIifflin?  " 

"  She  might  then  carry  out  too  easily  all  the  de- 
signs she  has  upon  T^orth  America;  for  thee  knows 
we  may  not  oppose  ourselves  to  the  powers  of  this 
world;  but  though  we  might  submit  to  the  Governors 
of  the  earth,  we  do  not  wish  any  the  less  fervently 
that  the  laws  be  wise,  just  and  mild." 

"  But  do  you  not  know,  Mr.  Mifflin,  that  Great 
Britain  desires  only  your  own  good?  " 


54  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

*'  I  doubt  that,  because  she  tries  to  accomplish  here 
that  which  the  English  nation  has  never  allowed  her 
kings." 

"  You  are  a  Whig,  then,  Mr.  Mifflin?  " 

"  Friend  Howe,  thee  is  master  and  may  call  me 
whatever  thee  pleases.  But  what  can  I  be,  what 
would  thee  have  me  be,  since  I  am  born  a  citizen  of 
Pennsylvania?  Does  thee  accuse  me  of  a  crime,  if  I 
love  my  country?  " 

"  No,  no,  I  do  not  call  it  a  crime ;  besides,  my  busi- 
ness is  neither  to  preach  nor  to  convert,  but  to  sub- 
jugate." 

"  Since  this  is  unfortunately  thy  duty  and  thy  in- 
clination, in  the  name  of  humanity  put  as  much  mild- 
ness as  possible  into  thy  conquests;  so  that  thy  sol- 
diers, withheld  within  the  bounds  of  their  military 
duty,  may  not  be  authorized  to  pillage  and  destroy, 
as  they  have  done.  Mercy  will  be  an  honor  to  thy 
military  exploits,  and  may  perhaps  help  thee  to  con- 
quer. If  thee  is  not  an  American,  can  thee  forget 
that  thee  is  English?  Thee  knows  what  this  name 
means,  the  partisan  of  a  just  and  necessaiy  liberty." 

"  Do  you  not  know  that  among  us  military  men 
there  exist  two  distinct  characters,  imder  the  appear- 
ance of  the  same  individual?  As  an  English  citizen,  I 
admit  that  Parliament  has  carried  things  too  far;  as 
a  military  man,  my  honor  is  engaged;  I  must  carry  out 
the  King's  orders  as  well  as  I  can." 

"  What  thee  has  just  told  me  astonishes  me  greatly, 


COatncc  £0Mnh  55 

friend  Howe.  How  can  a  man  have  two  characters? 
How  can  his  spirit  divide  itself,  and  force  his  hands 
to  do  that  which  is  repugnant  to  his  heart?  " 

"  It  is  nevertheless  thus,  Mr.  Mifflin;  it  is  a  problem 
that  you,  quiet  farmers  that  you  are,  can  never  under- 
stand; yet  I  know  several  members  of  your  Society 
that  do  not  think  as  you  do." 

"That  may  be;  our  Society  lays  down  no  laws; 
every  member  voluntarily  united  in  our  system  of 
belief  thinks  and  judges  of  the  things  of  this  world 
according  to  his  light ;  our  brethren  are  none  the  less 
partisans  of  liberty." 

"  I  think  just  as  you  do,  Mr.  Mifflin ;  I  should  be 
sorry  to  see  the  Americans  made  slaves.  I  am  de- 
lighted that  chance  has  brought  your  two  letters  into 
my  hands,  since  this  circumstance  has  shortened  your 
imprisonment,  and  has  procured  me  the  pleasure  of 
making  the  acquaintance  of  a  man  as  worthy  of 
respect  as  you.  This  is  the  opinion  even  of  your 
enemies." 

"  I  did  not  think  I  had  any." 

''  It  is  the  fate  of  all  men,"  said  the  General;  "  why 
should  you  wish  to  be  happier?  Good-bye,  Mr.  Mif- 
flin. I  have  given  orders  for  you  to  be  allowed  to 
pass.    I  wish  you  a  pleasant  journey." 

"  Farewell,  "William  Howe.  Thee  may  depend 
upon  it  I  shall  do  my  best." 

He  left  Philadelphia  the  same  day,  respected  by 
the  guards,  who  were  surprised  at  the  care  they  were 


56  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

obliged  to  take  of  a  man  who  wore  a  flat-brimmed  hat, 
a  gray  suit  without  buttons,  who  wore  no  powder  in 
his  hair,  and  whose  shoes  were  tied  with  laces. 

After  leaving  the  English  lines,  he  went  to  seek 
General  Washington  at  his  camp  at  Valley  Forge;  he 
told  him  the  object  of  his  visit,  and  the  story  of  his 
trip  to  Philadelphia;  he  was  received  with  open  arms 
by  his  illustrious  compatriot;  he  was  feted  and  made 
much  of  by  all  who  were  around  him;  everyone  has- 
tened to  do  justice  to  such  a  noble  idea,  to  such  a 
humane  project.  Although  Congress  did  not  vote  this 
advantageous  truce,  Warner  MiflElin  and  the  Meetings 
that  had  sent  him  felt  none  the  less  complimented; 
he  returned  home,  having  the  esteem  of  both  Gen- 
erals, happy  to  have  done  all  which  depended  upon 
him  to  do,  to  carry  through  the  undertaking  which 
had  been  entrusted  to  him. 

The  night  that  Warner  Mifllin  crossed  German- 
town  was  marked  by  one  of  those  crimes  which  is 
counted  for  almost  nothing  in  the  long  list  of  those 

occasioned  by  a  ci^al  war.    Lieutenant ,  of 

Regiment,  whose  soul  is  filled  with  the  blackest  enthu- 
siasm, and  who  is  the  most  extraordinary  royalist  I 
have  ever  seen,  was  constantly  imagining  all  those  to 
be  worthy  of  death  who  were  called  rebels  under  the 
proclamation  of  the  King. 

One  night,  filled  with  an  atrocious  zeal,  and  a 
strange  thirst  for  blood,  and  carrying  his  brutality  to 
the  farthest  point,  he  left  his  tent  at  midnight;  accom- 


panied  by  two  soldiers  as  drimk  with  wine  and  cruelty 
as  their  leader,  he  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  first 
house  he  came  to  in  Germantown. 

"  Who  is  there,"  called  the  master  of  the  house. 

"  A  friend,"  said  the  Lieutenant. 

"  I  know  no  friends  at  this  time  of  night,  and  in  the 
midst  of  two  armies,"  replied  the  man. 

"  Open  the  door,  I  have  something  to  tell  you." 

He  came  down  in  his  night-shirt,  and  had  barely 
reached  the  last  step  when  they  seized  him,  and  after 
reproaching  him  for  being  an  American  and  a  rebel, 
they  hung  him  without  any  noise  to  the  door,  where 
he  was  found  the  next  day  by  the  neighbors.  You 
will  not  doubt  the  truth  of  this  story,  when  I  tell  you 
that  I  had  it  from  the  lips  of  this  very  officer,  who  is 
to-day  a  captain  in  the  second  order. 

"  I  came  back  and  went  to  bed,"  he  said,  "  and  slept 
quietly  until  morning.  This,"  he  added,  "  is  but  a 
scratch  in  comparison  with  what  our  General  Gray 
did  when  he  gave  the  order  to  pierce  with  bayonets  in 
one  night  four  hundred  rebels  who  were  lying  asleep." 

To  scatter  the  triple  impression  which  the  recital 
of  such  an  atrocity  must  make,  I  wish  to  tell  you  some 
other  characteristics  of  the  good  Mifflin,  and  of  an- 
other Quaker  who  deserves  my  admiration  quite  as 
much. 

Warner  Mifflin  married,  in  1765,  Phebe,^  a  rich 

'  Warner  Mifflin's  first  wife  was  Elizabeth  Johns,  whom  he 
married  in  1767.    The  reference  is  no  doubt  to  her. 


58  Mft  anD  ^ncesttp  of 

and  beautiful  girl.  She  had  at  least  327,000  pounds 
(French).  The  furniture,  bureaus  and  closets  which 
she  brought  were  made,  according  to  the  custom  of 
the  country,  of  mahogany,  and  were  of  great  beauty; 
her  clothes,  though  simple,  were  rich  and  in  large 
quantities;  for  she  did  not  belong  to  the  sect  of 
Friends  (Quakers). 

The  difference  in  worship  brings  none,  as  you  know, 
to  disturb  the  peace  and  union  of  families.  A  more 
intimate  knowledge,  and  the  example  of  her  husband, 
decided  her  in  a  short  time  to  join  the  Society  of 
which  he  was  a  member,  that  of  the  Friends.  She 
assured  me  that  he  never  spoke  to  her  on  the  subject, 
and  no  sooner  was  she  admitted  to  the  Society  than, 
she  conformed  to  its  principles  and  adopted  its  belief. 
She  carried  her  scruples  so  far  as  even  to  have  all  the 
carving  and  ornaments  on  her  furniture  taken  off,  as 
being  contrary  to  the  simplicity  of  Friends.  Every- 
thing which  could  be  considered  useless  or  superfluous 
was  sold.  She  even  gave  up  wearing  buckles  on  her 
shoes,  and  fastened  them  instead,  according  to  the 
custom,  with  laces. 

Some  time  before,  several  Friends  had  purposed 
emancipating  their  negroes.  This  good  doctrine  had 
already  been  promulgated  and  recommended  in  sev- 
eral Meetings,  for  more  than  forty  years.  A  member 
of  this  Society,  living  in  the  town  of  Flushing  (on 
the  island  of  Nassau,  or  Long  Island),  famous  for  his 
knowledge  of  medicine,  as  well  as  for  his  Christian 


matntt  Q^itflin,  59 

virtues,  had  freed  all  his  slaves,  and  in  his  will  be- 
queathed them  a  decent  means  of  support.  Antoine 
Benezet,  son  of  a  Frenchman,  published  at  length  an 
excellent  book  on  this  subject.  This  work  has  accom- 
plished all  its  author  could  have  wished  for  it;  but  not 
satisfied  with  this  mere  beginning  of  a  good  work,  he 
abandoned  all  his  business  to  his  wife,  left  his  home 
and  went  from  Meeting  to  Meeting,  preaching  the 
freedom  of  the  negro.  This  man,  simple  and  gentle, 
without  having  the  energy  of  St.  Paul,  the  fire  of  St. 
Augustine,  or  the  knowledge  of  St.  Thomas,  was  lis- 
tened to  with  the  closest  attention,  and  gained  fol- 
lowers everywhere.  He  had  to  fight  the  strongest  of 
human  passions — self-interest. 

"  ISTot  having  the  authority  of  any  public  body,  or 
the  resources  of  eloquence  in  your  favor,"  I  asked  him 
one  day,  "  how  can  you  have  succeeded?  " 

"  By  the  help  of  the  inspiration  of  the  Spirit  of  the 
universe,  of  the  kind  disposition  of  those  to  whom  I 
spoke,  and  of  my  own  good  will,"  he  answered. 

He  has  had  the  satisfaction  of  living  long  enough 
to  see  the  Society  refuse  to  admit  to  communion  (  a 
meeting  for  meditation)  those  w^ho  had  not  entirely 
banished  slavery  from  their  homes.  I  have  gathered 
together  anecdotes  on  this  subject  that  would  make 
you  shed  tears. 

Warner  Mifilin  had  received  from  his  father  thirty- 
seven  negroes,  young  as  well  as  old.  When  the  day 
arrived  on  which  he  was  to  free  them,  he  called  them 


60  Life  and  ^nctmv  of 

into  his  room,  one  after  the  other.    This  is  the  conver- 
sation he  had  with  one  of  them: 

"  Well,  friend  James,  how  old  is  thee?  " 
"  Master,  T  am  twenty-nine  and  a  half  vears  old." 
"  What,  thee  is  twenty-nine  and  a  half  years  old? 
Thee  ought  to  have  been  free,  as  our  white  brothers 
are,  at  twenty-one.  Listen:  religion  and  humanity 
enjoin  me  to  give  thee  to-day  thy  liberty;  and  justice 
commands  me  to  pay  thee  for  eight  and  a  liaK  years' 
labor,  at  two  hundred  and  seventy  pounds  per  year, 
including  thy  food  and  clothing,  to  the  amount  of 
2,295  pounds,  the  sum  I  owe  thee.  But  as  thee  is 
young  and  strong,  and  as  thee  must  work  to  support 
thyself,  it  is  my  intention  to  give  thee  a  bond  for  this 
amount,  dra^ving  7  per  cent,  interest.  This  is  the 
beginning  of  thy  fortune.  James,  thee  is  now  as  free 
as  I  am;  thee  has  no  other  master  than  God  and  the 
law.  Go  into  the  next  room  to  my  wife  Phebe,  thy 
former  mistress,  and  my  nephew,  William  Roberts; 
they  are  engaged  in  writing  thy  manumission;  when 
I  have  sealed  it  and  signed  it  before  witnesses,  thee 
must  so  to  have  it  recorded  in  the  books  of  the  So- 
ciety  at  Dover  (capital  of  Kent  County),  and  in  the 
county  registers.  God  bless  thee,  James;  be  good  and 
industrious.  In  all  thy  troubles  and  sorrows  thee  will 
find  a  friend  in  thy  old  master,  Warner  Mifflin." 

James,  astonished  by  a  scene  so  novel,  so  touching, 
and  so  unexpected,  burst  into  tears,  as  though  he  had 
been  accused  of  some  great  wrong.    The  sudden  effect 


maxntt  Mifflin*  ei 

of  astonishment,  gratitude,  and  several  other  senti- 
ments, swelled  his  heart,  and  almost  produced  con- 
viilsions.  He  wept  bitterly,  and  could  scarcely  say: 
"  Ah,  master,  what  shall  I  do  with  my  liberty?  I  was 
bom  under  your  roof,  1  have  always  had  everything 
I  needed;  we  worked  together  in  the  fields,  and  I  can 
say  I  worked  as  much  for  myself  as  for  you,  as  I  was 
fed  from  the  same  meats,  and  clothed  in  the  same  gar- 
ments; we  never  went  to  church  on  foot;  we  had  our 
Saturdays  to  ourselves ;  we  wished  for  nothing.  When 
we  were  sick  our  good  and  gentle  mistress  came  to 
our  bedside,  saying  always  something  to  comfort  us: 
'  AVell,  James,  well,  my  boy,  what  is  the  matter?  Do 
not  be  discouraged,  the  doctor  "^dll  soon  be  here.  I 
shall  take  care  of  thee.  Suffer  patiently,  that  is  the 
first  remedy,'  and  so  on.  ^^^len  I  am  free,  where 
shall  I  go?  AVhatshallldo?  And  when  I  am  sick?  " 
"  Thee  will  do  as  the  whites,  go  and  hire  thyself  to 
those  who  pay  thee  the  highest  wages.  In  a  few  years 
thee  can  buy  thyself  some  land ;  thee  will  marry  a  girl 
who  is  good  and  industrious  like  thyself;  thee  will 
bring  up  thy  children  as  I  have  brought  thee  up,  in 
the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  work.  After  living  in 
quiet  and  freedom,  thee  will  die  in  peace;  thee  must 
receive  thy  manumission,  James.  I  should  have  given 
it  to  thee  long  ago.  Would  to  God,  the  Father  of  all 
men,  that  the  whites  had  never  thought  of  trading 
in  thy  African  brethren ;  would  that  he  might  inspire 
all  Americans  with  the  desire  to  follow  our  example! 


62  Life  anD  ancesttp  oC 

We,  who  look  upon  liberty  as  the  first  of  all  blessings, 
why  should  we  refuse  it  to  those  who  live  with  us?  " 

"Ah,  master,  how  good  you  are!  That  is  why  I 
can  never  leave  you.  I  have  never  been  a  slave.  You 
have  always  spoken  to  me  as  you  speak  to  wliit«  men. 
I  have  never  wanted  for  anything,  either  in  sickness 
or  in  health.  I  have  never  worked  more  than  your 
neighbors,  who  worked  for  themselves.  I  have  been 
richer  than  some  white  men,  to  whom  I  have  loaned 
money.  My  good  and  dear  mistress — ^who  never  com- 
mands us,  but  who  makes  us  do  everything  she  wants 
by  saying:  '  James,  I  should  like  you  to  do  such  and 
such  a  thing ' — how  can  I  leave  her?  Pay  me  what 
you  like  each  year,  call  me  freeman  or  slave,  it  mat- 
ters little  to  me,  as  I  can  only  be  happy  with  you.  I 
shall  never  leave  you." 

''  Well,  James,  I  consent  to  do  what  thee  wishes. 
WTien  thy  manumission  has  undergone  the  necessary- 
forms,  I  \\all  hire  thee  by  the  year.  But  take  at  least 
a  week's  holiday;  this  is  a  great  epoch  in  thy  life; 
celebrate  it  with  joy,  rest,  and  whatever  else  thee 
pleases." 

"  N'o,  master,  we  are  in  the  midst  of  the  sowing;  T 
will  take  my  holiday  some  other  time.  Only  let  to- 
day be  a  holiday  in  the  black  family.  Since  you  wish 
it,  I  accept  my  liberty,  and  my  first  action  as  a  free 
man  will  be  to  take  your  hand,  master,  and  grasp  it 
in  mine,  while  T  place  it  on  my  heart,  where  James's 
devotion  and  gratitude  will  onlv  cease  when  it  ceases 


Weitnzt  9diftim.  63 

to  beat.  The  second  ^nll  be  to  assure  you  that  there 
is  no  laborer  in  Kent  County  who  will  be  more  dili- 
gent than  he  who  henceforth  shall  call  himself  faith- 
ful James." 

Can  man  offer  a  more  agreeable  incense  to  the 
Divinity  ? 

Some  time  before  his  marriage  this  same  Warner 
Mifflin  had  sold  in  Lewistown  (Kent  County)  a  slave 
with  whom  he  was  much  dissatisfied.  The  bad  be- 
havior of  this  negro  obliged  his  new  master  to  get  rid 
of  him  to  a  second  buyer,  who,  being  equally  dissatis- 
fied, sent  him  to  Jamaica,  where  the  fever  soon  made 
him  more  docile  and  well-behaved.  This  negro, 
remembering  the  kindness  and  humanity  of  his  first 
master,  sent  him  a  touching  letter,  in  which  he  de- 
scribed his  misery  and  repentance.  Such  was  the 
effect  on  Warner  Mifflin's  heari:,  such  was  the  remorse 
with  which  he  was  filled,  that,  regretting  to  have 
been  the  cause  of  the  misfortune  of  this  slave,  he  set 
sail  for  this  island,  from  whence,  after  buying  back 
his  former  slave,  he  brought  him  to  Philadelphia  and 
gave  him  his  liberty. 

J.  Hector  St.  Johx  was  a  native  of  Xorraandy.  of  noble 
birth,  and  came  to  the  British  Colonies  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
Having  established  himself  on  a  farm  near  the  frontier,  he  was 
one  of  the  first  victims  of  the  War  of  Independence,  the  Indian 
allies  of  Great  Britain  setting  fire  to  and  destroying  his  prop- 
erty. He  wrote  his  letters,  during  the  different  epochs  of  the 
war,  in  English.  Returning  to  France,  he  translated  them  into 
French.  He  married  the  daughter  of  an  American  merchant, 
and  is  referred  to  by  J.  P.  Brissot  de  War\-ille  (p.  147)  as  liv- 
ing in  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 


EXTRACTS  RELATIXG  TO  WARXER 
MIFFLIX, 

FROM  "new  travels  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 
PERFORMED  IN  1788." 

BY   J.    P.    BRISSOT   DE   WARVILLE.^ 


Letter  IX.,  pp.  189-193. 

VISIT  FROM  THE  GOOD  WARNER  MIFFLIN. 

Aug.  30th,  1788. 
I  was  sick,  and  Warner  Mifflin  came  to  see  me. 
You  know  Warner  Mifflin;  you  have  read  the  eulo- 
gium  made  of  him  by  M.  de  Crevecoeur.  It  is  he  that 
first  freed  all  his  slaves;  it  is  he  who,  without  a  pass- 
port, traversed  the  British  army,  and  spoke  to  Gen- 
eral Howe  with  so  much  firmness  and  dignity;  it  is  he 
who,  fearing  not  the  effects  of  the  general  hatred 
against  the  Quakers,  went,  at  the  risk  of  being  treated 
as  a  spy,  to  present  himself  to  General  Washington, 
to  justify  to  him  the  conduct  of  the  Quakers;  it  is  he, 
that  in  the  midst  of  the  furies  of  war,  equally  a  friend 
to  the  French,  the  English  and  the  Americans,  car- 
ried generous  succours  to  those  among  them  who  were 
suffering.  Well,  this  angel  of  peace  came  to  see  me. 
"I  am  Warner  Mifflin,"  says  he;  "I  have  read  the 

'  London,  J.  S.  Jordan,  1792.    Penna.  Hist.  Soc. 
64 


mamtt  ^imUu  65 

book  wherein  thoii  defendest  the  cause  of  the  Friends, 
wherein  thou  preachest  the  principles  of  universal 
benevolence;  I  knew  that  thou  wast  here,  and  I  have 
come  to  see  thee;  besides,  I  love  thy  jSTation.  I  was, 
I  confess,  much  prejudiced  against  the  French;  I 
even  hated  them,  having  been,  in  this  respect,  edu- 
cated in  the  English  principles.  But  when  I  came  to 
see  them,  a  secret  voice  said  to  me,  that  I  ought  to 
drive  from  my  heart  that  prejudice;  that  I  ought  to 
know  them,  and  love  them.  I  have  then  fought  for 
them.  I  have  known  them;  and  it  is  with  pleasure 
I  have  found  them  possess  a  spirit  of  mildness  and 
general  benevolence,  which  I  had  never  found  among 
the  English." 

I  cannot  report  to  you  all  the  conversation  of  this 
worthy  Quaker;  it  made  a  deep  impression  on  my 
heart.  What  humanity!  and  what  charity!  It 
seems,  that  to  love  mankind,  and  to  search  to  do  them 
good,  constitutes  his  only  pleasure,  his  only  existence; 
his  constant  occupation  is  to  find  the  means  of  making 
all  men  but  one  family;  and  he  does  not  despair  of  it. 
He  spoke  to  me  of  the  Society  of  Quakers  at 
Nismes  ( ?)  and  of  some  friends  in  America  and  Eng- 
land, who  have  been  to  visit  them.  He  regarded  them 
as  instruments  designed  to  propagate  the  principles 
of  the  Society  throughout  the  World.  I  mentioned 
to  him  some  obstacles;  such  as  the  corruption  of  our 
morals  and  the  power  of  the  clergy.  "  Oh,  my 
friend,"  said  he,  "  is  not  the  arm  of  the  Almighty 
5 


66  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

stronger  than  the  arm  of  man  ?  What  were  we  when 
the  Society  took  its  birth  in  England?  What  was 
America  tliirteen  years  ago,  when  Benezet  raised  his 
voice  against  the  slavery  of  the  blacks  ?  Let  us  always 
endeavour  to  do  good;  fear  no  obstacles,  and  the  good 
will  be  done." 

All  this  was  said  without  the  least  ostentation.  He 
said  what  he  felt,  what  he  had  thought  a  thousand 
times;  he  spoke  from  the  heart,  and  not  from  the 
head.  He  realized  what  he  had  told  me  of  that  secret 
voice,  that  internal  spirit,  of  which  the  Quakers  speak 
so  much ;  he  was  animated  by  it.  Ah !  who  can  see, 
who  can  hear  a  man,  so  much  exalted  above  human 
nature,  without  reflecting  on  himself,  ^vithout  en- 
deavoring to  imitate  him,  without  blushing  at  his  o^vn 
weakness  ?  What  are  the  finest  writings  in  compari- 
son with  a  life  so  pure,  a  conduct  so  constantly  de- 
voted to  the  good  of  humanity?  How  small  I 
appeared  in  contemplating  him !  And  shall  we  calum- 
niate a  sect  to  which  a  man  so  venerable  belongs? 
Shall  we  paint  it  as  the  centre  of  hypocrisy  and 
deceit  ?  We  must  then  suppose  that  Mifflin  coimter- 
feits  humanity;  that  he  is  in  concert  with  hypocrites, 
or  that  he  is  blind  to  their  true  character.  To  coun- 
terfeit humanity,  to  consent  to  sacrifice  one's  inter- 
ests, to  be  scoffed  and  ridiculed,  to  impart  his  goods 
to  the  poor,  to  affranchise  his  negroes,  and  all  this  by 
hypocrisy,  would  be  a  very  bad  speculation;  hypoc- 
risy makes  better  calculations.     But,  if  you  suppose 


Weimtt  ^ifain»  67 

this  man  to  be  true  and  honest  as  to  himself,  can  you 
imagine  him  to  be  in  concert  with  knaves?  This 
would  be  an  absurd  contradiction.  Finally,  on  hear- 
ino:  tliis  man,  full  of  good  sense,  and  endowed  with 
solid  judgment,  reasoning  with  so  much  force,  can. 
you  believe  that  he  has  been,  for  all  his  life,  the  dupe 
of  a  band  of  sharpers,  when  he  is  at  the  same  time  in 
all  their  most  secret  counsels,  and  one  of  their  chiefs  ? 
Yes,  my  friend,  I  repeat  it,  the  attachment  of  an 
angel  like  Warner  Mifflin  to  the  sect  of  Quakers,  is 
the  fairest  apology  for  that  Society. 

He  took  me  one  day  to  see  his  intended  wife.  Miss 
Ameland,^  whom  he  was  to  marry  in  a  few  days.  She 
is  a  worthy  companion  of  this  reputable  Quaker. 
What  mildness!  What  modesty!  and  at  the  same 
time,  what  entertainment  in  her  conversation !  Miss 
Ameland^  once  loved  the  World.  She  made  verses 
and  music,  and  was  fond  of  dancing.  Though  young 
still,  she  has  renoimced  all  these  amusements,  to  em- 
brace the  life  of  an  anchorite.  In  the  midst  of  the 
world,  she  has  persisted  in  her  design,  notwithstand- 
ing the  pleasantries  of  her  acquaintance. 


Emlen. 


68  Earner  Mifflin* 

Letter  XXI.,  pp.  279,  280. 

LAWS  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  STATES  FOR  THE  MANUMISSION 
OF  SLAVES. 

...  In  this  State,^  famous  for  the  wisdom  of  its 
laws,  for  its  good  faith  and  federal  patriotism,  resides 
that  angel  of  peace,  Warner  Mifflin.  Like  Benezet, 
he  occupies  his  time  in  extending  the  opinions  of  his 
Society  relative  to  the  freedom  of  the  Blacks,  and  the 
care  of  providing  for  their  existence  and  their  instruc- 
tion. It  is  in  part  to  his  zeal  that  is  owing  the  forma- 
tion of  a  Society  in  that  state,  after  the  model  of  the 
one  at  Philadelphia  for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 


Appendix  to  Letter  XXII.,  p.  299. 

ON   THE   GENERAL  STATE,   MANNERS  AND   CHARACTER  OF 
THE  BLACKS  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

.  .  .  One  of  the  most  ardent  petitioners  to  Con- 
gress in  this  cause,^  was  the  respectable  Warner  Mif- 
flin. His  zeal  was  rewarded  with  atrocious  calumnies, 
which  he  always  answered  with  mildness,  forgiveness 
and  argument. 


Delaware.  *  Suppression  of  the  slave  trade. 


ANECDOTES   AND  MEMOIRS  OF   WARNER 
MIFFLIN.' 

Ezekiel  Coston,  aged  upwards  of  eighty  years, 
related  to  Samuel  Canby,  of  Wilmington,  in  the 
State  of  Delaware,  in  the  2d  month,  1825,  the  fol- 
lo\\ang  circumstances  of  his  life:  That  he  was 
born  a  slave,  in  the  family  of  Daniel  Mifflin,  of  Ac- 
comac  County,  Virginia,  \vith  whom  he  lived  until 
about  twenty  years  of  age ;  about  which  period,  War- 
ner Mifflin,  son  of  Daniel,  married  a  daughter  of 
Kensey  Johns,  of  West  River,  Maryland,  and  settled 
near  Camden,  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  Ezekiel  and 
five  other  slaves  were  given  him  by  his  father;  there 
were  also  a  number  of  slaves  belonging  to  his  wife, 
brought  into  the  family.  He  lived  with  Warner  Mif- 
flin about  eighteen  months,  when  he  put  him  on  a 
plantation  of  his,  to  work  it,  about  six  miles  from  his 
residence,  where  he  continued  about  four  years  a 
slave. 

At  this  period,  Ezekiel  was  informed  by  his  master, 
that  he  had  concluded  to  set  his  slaves  free.  And 
very  soon  after,  his  master  came  to  his  residence,  and 
calling  him  from  the  field  w^here  he  was  ploughing, 
they  sat  down  together,  when  he  told  Ezekiel  his  mind 
had  long  been  uneasy  with  holding  slaves,  and  that  he 

'  From  "  Friends'  Miscellany,"  vol.  V.,  No.  5. 


70  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

must  let  him  go.  Ezekiel  was  so  well  satisfied  with 
his  situation,  that  he  told  his  master  he  could  not 
leave  him.  Their  conversation  on  the  subject  pro- 
duced such  feelings  of  tenderness,  that  they  both 
wept  much.  Finally,  as  an  inducement  to  comply,  his 
master  told  him  he  might  remain  on  the  farm:  and 
they  entered  into  a  mutual  agreement,  which  was  car- 
ried into  effect,  and  Ezekiel  continued  to  live  on  the 
farm  fourteen  years.  Warner  then  gave  him  a  piece 
of  land,  upon  which  he  built  a  house,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  came  to  reside  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Wilmington.  After  relating  the  foregoing  nar- 
rative, he  was  inquired  of  respecting  the  account 
which  had  been  published  of  Warner  Mifflin's  inter- 
view with  his  man,  James,  at  the  time  of  his  libera- 
tion. Ezekiel  shed  tears  when  the  story  was  read  to 
him — and  said,  "It  is  just  so;  poor  Jim  and  I  lived 
together  with  master,  and  worked  together  in  liar- 
mony.  How  well  I  remember,  when  Jim  told  me 
that  master  Mifflin  had  done  the  same  by  him,  as  he 
had  for  me.  It  is  all  true — mistress  brought  a  num- 
ber of  slaves  with  her  into  the  family,  after  master 
married  her — one  of  them  was  my  wife, — all  the  rest 
of  us,  making,  I  suppose,  about  thirty,  were  given  by 
old  master,  to  master  Warner,  who  is  now  an  angel 
in  heaven.  Oh!  how  it  comforts  me  to  believe  that 
after  suffering  a  few  more  pains,  I  shall  live  with  him 
forever,  in  sweet  communion.     We  were  brought  up 


COarner  Mifflin*  7i 

children  together,  slept  together,  and  eat  at  the  same 
table,  and  never  quarreled." 

About  the  year  1785,  Warner  Mifflin  had  a  relig- 
ious concern  to  visit  his  brethren  in  England.  This 
was  opened  to  Friends  of  his  own  Monthly  and  Quar- 
terly Meetings,  and  by  them  approved,  so  as  to  fur- 
nish him  with  regular  certificates  of  their  unity  with 
him  in  his  religious  prospects.  Warner  Mifflin  was 
then  an  elder,  and,  according  to  the  order  and  disci- 
pline of  Society,  he  produced  his  certificates,  and 
spread  his  concern  before  the  General  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  held  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 
spring  of  1786.  It  was  probably  a  new  case  for  an 
elder  to  come  forward  with  a  religious  concern  to 
cross  the  Atlantic,  on  a  visit  to  the  churches.  There 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  doubt  of  the  recti- 
tude of  his  concern;  and,  had  the  General  Meeting 
acted  on  the  feelings  of  unity  produced  on  the  occa- 
sion, there  is  no  doubt  he  would  have  been  set  at 
liberty  to  pursue  the  very  important  object  he  had  in 
view,  of  visiting  the  meetings  for  discipline  in  Eng- 
land. But,  it  was  suggested  by  some  Friends,  that 
there  was  no  letter  of  discipline,  pointing  out  a  way 
for  elders  to  Adsit  the  churches;  and,  therefore,  as 
Warner's  concern  was  especially  to  build  up  Israel,  in 
the  line  of  order,  Friends  thought  he  must  go 
orderly.  Job  Scott,  who  was  present  on  the  occa- 
sion, says  he  was  very  submissive,  and  his  concern  was 
feelingly  weighty. 


72  Life  anti  anccsttp  of 

To  us  of  the  present  day,  it  may  be  a  subject  of 
re^et  that  he  was  thus  prevented  from  prosecuting 
his  visit.  The  importance  of  right  order,  and  the 
exercise  of  Christian  discipline  in  society,  might  well 
call  forth  the  religious  concern  and  labours  of  faith- 
ful elders  in  the  church — as  well  as  ministers.  About 
the  time  of  Warner  ]VIifflin's  proposal  to  go  to  Eng- 
land, an  unusual  number  of  American  Friends  were 
engaged  in  a  similar  exercise;  and  his  acknowledged 
skill,  judgment  and  zeal  in  the  maintenance  of  the 
discipline  of  society  might  have  been  eminently 
useful. 

"We  are  informed,  however,  that  in  the  course  of 
his  life  he  visited  the  several  Yearly  Meetings  of 
Friends  on  this  continent,  as  well  as  many  other  meet- 
ings for  discipline.  In  these  services,  which  were 
well  accepted  by  Friends,  he  was  careful  to  move 
with  the  concurrence  of  his  brethren  at  home. 

Xor  was  Warner  Mifflin  alone  in  his  religious  exer- 
cises and  labours  and  travels,  for  the  due  support  of 
right  order  and  discipline  among  Friends.  Other 
elders  traveled  A.^'ith  certificates  of  unity  under  simi- 
lar concerns.  Among  these  was  Jacob  Limdy,  of 
Hardwich,  who  several  times  had  minutes  from  his 
Monthly  Meeting,  to  visit  Quarterly  and  Monthly 
Meetings  at  Redstone  and  in  the  back  parts  of  Penn- 
sylvania. We  might  name  George  Churchman,  Oli- 
ver Paxson,  and  divers  others ;  more  especially,  if  the 
example  of  those  elders  who  have  gone  before,  might 


matntt  ^itain.  73 

be  the  means  of  stirring  up  or  encouraging  others  of 
the  present  day  to  a  right  concern  to  ''  go  and  do  like- 
wise.'' 

In  the  second  volume  of  "  The  Friend  of  Peace," 
a  valuable  work,  published,  a  few  years  since,  by 
Xoah  Worcester,  of  Brighton,  Massachusetts,  we  find 
the  following  interesting  account  of  \Yamer  Mifflin. 
As  it  has  relation  to  some  of  the  statements  in  his 
o^vn  narrative,  we  think  it  worthy  of  a  place  in  this 
work.  It  is  headed,  "  General  "Washington  and  War- 
ner Mifflin."  The  author  of  "  The  Friend  of  Peace  " 
says: 

"  In  reading  the  Travels  of  Brissot,  in  the  United 
States,  my  attention  was  arrested  by  the  following 
passage:  '  I  was  sick,  and  Waraer  ^liiSin  came  to  see 
me.  It  is  he  that  first  freed  all  his  slaves;  it  is  he, 
who,  without  a  passport,  traversed  the  British  army, 
and  spoke  to  General  Howe,  with  so  much  firmness 
and  dignity; — it  is  he,  who,  fearing  not  the  effects  of 
the  general  hatred  against  the  Quakers,  went,  at  the 
risk  of  being  treated  as  a  spy,  to  present  himself  to 
General  Washington,  to  justify  to  him  the  conduct 
of  the  Quakers; — it  is  he,  that  amidst  the  furies  of 
war,  equally  a  friend  to  the  French,  the  English,  and 
the  Americans,  carried  generous  succours  to  those 
among  them,  who  were  suffering.  Well !  this  angel 
of  peace  came  to  see  me.' 

''  Having  never  before  heard,  or  not  remembering 
the  facts  referred  to,  I  had  a  desire  for  further  infor- 


74  Life  anD  ^nceistrp  of 

mation;  but  knew  not  from  what  quarter  it  could  be 
obtained.  Unsolicited,  however,  and  unexpectedly, 
the  intelligence  soon  came,  by  a  letter  from  a  gentle- 
man in  Pennsylvania,  who  was  acquainted  with  War- 
ner Mifflin.  From  his  account,  the  following  concise 
statement  will  be  given:  The  battle  of  German- 
town  happened  on  the  day  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of 
the  Quakers,  in  Philadelphia.  In  the  time  of  the 
battle,  these  friends  of  peace  were  engaged  in  prayer, 
that  Divine  protection  might  be  granted  to  the  city 
and  the  people;  and  in  preparing  to  renew  their  testi- 
mony against  the  spirit  of  war.  While  James  Thorn- 
ton was  writing  their  Testimony,  the  cannon  shook 
the  house,  where  they  were  assembled,  and  the  air 
was  darkened  by  the  smoke  of  the  guns.  Warner 
Mifflin  undertook  the  service  of  communicating  the 
Testimony  to  General  Washington  and  General 
Howe.  To  perform  this  duty,  he  had  to  walk  iu 
blood,  and  among  the  dead  bodies  of  those  who  had 
fallen  in  battle.  He  performed  the  service  with  great 
freedom  and  intrepidity.  In  the  conversation  with 
general  Washington,  he  said  expressly,  '  I  am  op- 
posed to  the  revolution,  and  to  all  changes  of  govern- 
ment which  occasion  war  and  blood-shed.' 

"  After  general  Washington  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  Warner  Mifflin  went  to 
visit  him  at  New  York,  and  was  treated  by  the  presi- 
dent with  kindness  and  respect.  In  the  course  of  the 
interview,  the  president  recollected  what  Mifflin  had 


said  to  him  at  Germantown,  and  thus  addressed  him: 
*  Mr.  ]\Iiffliii,  will  you  please  to  inform  me  on  what 
principles  you  were  opposed  to  the  revolution  ? '  Mif- 
flin answered,  'Yes,  friend  Washington; — upon  the 
same  principles  that  I  should  be  opposed  to  a  change 
in  this  government.  All  that  ever  was  gained  by 
revolutions,  are  not  adequate  compensation  to  the 
poor  mangled  soldier,  for  the  loss  of  life  or  limb.' 
After  some  pause  and  reflection,  the  president  re- 
plied, '  Mr.  Mifflin,  I  honour  your  sentiments; — ^there 
is  more  in  that,  than  mankind  have  generally  con- 
sidered.' " 

In  the  11th  month,  1791,  Warner  :Mifflin  pre- 
sented his  "  Memorial,  to  the  president,  senate,  and 
house  of  representatives  of  the  United  States,"  on  the 
subject  of  slavery.  His  object  was  to  plead  the  cause 
of  the  oppressed,  obtain  redress  of  their  wrongs,  and 
alleviation  of  the  sufferings  and  oppressions  of  the 
African  race,  in  this  land. 

On  accoimt  of  some  reflections  cast  on  him,  or  his 
Address  to  the  general  government,  he  published,  a 
short  time  after,  his  serious  Expostulations  with  the 
members  of  the  house  of  representatives,  in  relation 
to  the  principles  of  liberty,  and  the  inconsistency  and 
cruelty  of  the  slave  trade,  and  of  slavery. 

These  Essays  show  the  imdaunted  firmnos?  and 
zeal  of  the  writer,  his  cogent  reasoning,  and  powerful 
appeals  to  the  understanding  and  the  heart,  on  behalf 
of  sufferinsr  humanity.     In  the  testimony  of  ^J.Iother- 


76  Garnet  ^ifdin. 

kill  Monthly  Meeting,  it  is  stated,  amongst  other 
things,  that  "  that  which  conspicuously  marked  his 
character,  was  his  disinterested  labours,  and  the  dedi- 
cation of  his  time  and  talents  in  advocating  the  cause 
and  promoting  the  liberation  of  the  black  people.  On 
that  subject,  he  frequently  expostulated  with  rulers 
and  men  in  power,  with  Christian  boldness,  influ- 
enced, as  we  believe,  by  wisdom  from  above;  endeav- 
ouring to  dissuade  them  from  encouraging  the  un- 
righteous traffic,  and  pointing  out  its  cruelly  oppress- 
ive effects  upon  the  lives  and  liberties  of  our  fellow- 
men." 

In  the  year  1798  he  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting 
held  in  Philadelphia  during  the  prevalence  of  the  yel- 
low fever,  and,  it  was  thought,  died  of  that  disease 
soon  after  his  return  home,  aged  about  fifty-three 
years. 


u 


J    r 


THE 


DEFENCE 


OF 


WARNER   MIFFLIN 


Againft  Afpcrfions  caft  on  him  on 

Account  of  his  endeavours 

To  promote 

lUGHTEOUSNESS,,  MERCY  and  PEACE, 
AMONG  MANKIND. 


Seeing  "  Ic  is  good  to  bt  zcaloufly  affcw<>id  wiili   a  good  ■thine- 
am  I  thertforc  your  Enemy,  bcMuTc  I  teU  you  the  Tnilh"  ' 


^  PHILADELPHIA: 

rRIKTED  BV  SAMUEL  SANSOM,  jun.  No  17 

MULBERRY-biREEl. 

1796. 


■y\\ 


;-v 


'^ 


WAKNEE  MIFFLIN'S  MEMOIRS  OF  HIS 
LIFE.' 

"A  Defence  Against  Aspersions,  cast  on  him  on 
account  of  his  Endeavors  to  promote  Righteous- 
ness, Mercy  and  Peace,  among  Mankind." 

I  was  bom,  and  chiefly  raised,  on  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Virginia.  Although  my  parents  were  of  the 
religious  society,  called  Quakers,  and  exemplary  in 
their  lives,  yet  I  was  subject  to  great  incitements  to  a 
departure  from  the  principles,  held  by  that  people; 
there  being  none  of  that  profession,  except  our  fam- 
ily, within  sixty  miles.  My  associates  were  those, 
who  tenaciously  held  the  prevailing  sentiments  in 
favour  of  slavery;  so  that  I  had  no  opportunity  of 
having  my  heart  and  views  enlarged,  on  this  interest- 
ing subject,  by  conversing  with  such  of  my  brethren 
in  profession,  who  had  come  to  see  the  necessity  of 
an  impartial  inquiry  into  the  nature  and  tendency  of 
this  atrocious  practice. 

Thus  circumstanced,  and  my  father  then  possess- 
ing a  number  of  slaves,  I  was  in  great  danger  of 
becoming  blinded  by  the  influence  of  custom,  the 
bias  of  education,  and  the  delusions  of  self-interest; 
by  which  I  must  certainly  have  become  fettered,  as 
in  chains  of  wrong  habits,  had  not  the  emanations  of 

» Extract  from  "  Friends'  Miscellany,"  vol.  V.,  No.  5,  Fourth 
month.  1834. 

77 


78  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

Divine  light  and  grace,  to  which  I  had  been  early 
instructed  to  give  attention,  powerfully  prevailed  in 
successive  visitations;  so  operating,  as  to  subvert  the 
eliects  of  dangerous  pre]30ssessions,  and  disposing  my 
mind  to  }deld  to  the  influences  of  pure  wisdom,  in 
regard  to  this,  to  my  present  view,  one  of  the  worst 
of  sins. 

About  the  fourteenth  year  of  my  age,  a  circum- 
stance occurred,  that  tended  to  open  the  way  for  the 
reception  of  those  impressions,  which  have  since  been 
sealed,  with  indelible  clearness,  on  my  understand- 
ing. Being  in  the  field  with  my  father's  slaves,  a 
young  man  among  them  questioned  me,  whether  I 
thought  it  could  be  right,  that  they  should  be 
toiling  in  order  to  raise  me,  and  that  I  might  be 
sent  to  school;  and  by  and  by,  their  children  must  do 
so  for  mine.  Some  little  irritation,  at  first,  took  place 
in  my  feelings;  but  his  reasoning  so  impressed  me,  as 
never  to  be  erased  from  my  mind. 

Before  I  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood,  I  deter- 
mined never  to  be  a  slave-holder.  But  the  idea  of 
losing  so  much  property,  as  I  might  reasonably  ex- 
pect, from  the  great  number  of  slaves  my  father  pos- 
sessed, at  first  view,  seemed  hard  to  reconcile.  When 
I  settled  in  a  married  life,  the  proving  of  my  faith  on 
the  subject  of  slavery  commenced.  I  became  pos- 
sessed of  several  minor  slaves,  by  my  wife;  and  divers 
came  from  my  father's,  on  different  errands,  with  the 
conclusion    to    reside    vnth    me,  without    any   move 


matnet  ^min*  79 

thereto  on  his  part,  or  mine;  also,  my  mother's  family 
of  blacks,  from  Kent  County,  Maryland,  came  to  live 
with  me.  Thus,  all  I  then  had,  of  lawful  age,  being 
volunteers  in  my  service,  I  rested  quiet  in  the  use  of 
them;  until,  at  length,  I  became  almost  persuaded,  I 
could  not  do  ^^^thout  them. 

When  the  subject  of  setting  the  blacks  free  was 
treated  on,  the  prevailing  opinion  was,  that  negroes 
were  such  thieves,  that  they  would  not  do  to  be  free. 
And  though  this  was  chiefly  the  plea  of  slave-holders, 
yet  I  was  glad  to  embrace  it,  as  a  pretext  for  keeping 
mine.  But  I  was  not  suffered  long  to  rest  unre- 
proved,  in  this  spot.  My  fig-leaf  covering  of  excuse 
was  stripped  off,  and  my  state  discovered  to  me,  by 
the  penetrating  rays  of  that  light,  which  maketh 
manifest ;  for  "  whatsoever  maketh  manifest,  is 
light."  From  these  convictions,  a  considerable  con- 
flict arose  in  my  mind.  But  after  continuing  for 
some  time,  debating,  resolving,  and  re-resolving,  a 
period  arrived,  when  He  who  hath  his  way  in  the 
clouds,  in  the  whirlwind,  in  the  earthquake,  and  in 
the  thick  darkness, — was  pleased  to  arouse  me  to 
greater  vigilance,  by  his  terrors  for  sin;  and  for  hav- 
ing omitted  to  do  what  had  clearly  appeared  as  my 
duty,  in  this  business. 

In  the  time  of  a  thunder  storm,  when  every  flash  of 
lightning  seemed  as  though  it  might  be  the  instru- 
ment to  despatch  me  into  a  state  of  fijcedness,  and 
with  the  measure  of  my  duty  herein,  not  filled  up, — 


80  JLjfe  anD  ancemp  of 

what  could  I  expect,  if  taken  hence  in  that  condition, 
but  an  eternal  separation  from  heavenly  enjoyment  ? 
Though  these  sensations  may  appear  strange  to  some, 
who  neither  fear  God,  nor  regard  man,  yet  I  still 
retain  a  willingness,  that  such  seasons  of  convulsion 
in  the  outward  elements,  may  be  impressive  of  solid 
instruction  to  my  mind. 

It  then  settled  on  my  understanding,  that  I  should 
be  excluded  from  happiness,  if  I  continued  in  this 
breach  of  the  Divine  law,  written  upon  my  heart,  as 
by  the  finger  of  God:  although  want  and  disgrace  to 
my  family  seemed  to  present,  with  threatening 
aspect,  if  I  should  adhere  to  the  dictates  of  justice.  I 
therefore,  in  the  year  1774,  manumitted  those  I  had, 
as  my  ^vife's  property;  flattering  myself  that  I  might 
retain  such  who  came  of  their  own  accord,  while  they 
chose  to  continue  as  heretofore.  But,  being  visited 
with  affliction,  and  the  presentation  of  an  awful  eter- 
nity, a  willingness  was  wrought  in  me,  to  cast  my  care 
on  a  merciful  Providence,  and,  at  all  events,  to  resign 
to  what  I  did  believe  was  called  for,  at  my  hands, — 
that  of  bearing  a  faithful  testimony  against  the 
abominable  practice  of  enslaving  my  fellow-men.  I 
therefore  let  my  father  know  that  he  must  take  the 
blacks  away,  or  authorise  me  to  set  them  free.  He 
readily  told  me,  I  might  do  as  I  would;  on  which,  in 
the  year  1775,  I  executed  another  deed  of  emancipa- 
tion for  all  I  held,  as  mine. 

It  is  with  peculiar  satisfaction,  I  can  remark,  that 


COarnet  ^iftlin*  8i 

mj  father  was  not  long  behind  me,  in  espousing  the 
cause  of  liberty.  After  sealing  the  sincerity  of  his 
professions,  by  the  liberation  of  about  a  hundred 
slaves, — notwithstanding  the  discouragement  of  a 
law  then  existing,  lie  became  a  zealous  advocate,  and 
intercessor  for  them,  with  their  masters;  and  in  many 
instances,  his  labors  were  successful.  He  often  ap- 
peared alone  in  courts  of  law,  amidst  surrounduig 
opponents,  to  plead  the  cause  of  individuals,  of  the 
African  race,  who  had  a  claim  to  freedom.  j 

About  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  my  age,  I  was  put 
into  commission  of  a  justice  of  the  peace;  which 
tended  to  excite  considerable  thirst  for  preferment 
in  government ; — a  taste  for  which  had  much  impeded 
my  testimony  against  slavery,  as  it  furnished  an  addi- 
tional idea  of  the  necessity  for  slaves,  to  support  me 
in  that  mode  of  life.  But,  after  those  seasons  of  con- 
flict, before  hinted  at,  I  became  impressed  with  a 
belief,  that  it  was  right  for  me  to  decline  this  office, 
and  with  it  any  future  advancement  to  stations  in 
power. 

Although  I  revere  magistracy,  believing  in  the 
sacred  text,  that  it  is  "  an  ordinance  of  God,"  and  a 
great  benefit  to  mankind,  when  executed  imder  his 
holy  and  preserAnng  fear; — yet,  in  the  present  state 
of  the  governments  of  this  world,  I  apprehend  my 
brethren  in  profession  cannot  be  active  therein,  con- 
sistent with  our  principles  of  being  called  to  become, 
through  a  faithful  adherence  to  Divine  monitions, 
6 


82  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

even  as  some  of  the  first  fruits  of  the  nations  unto 
God,  in  the  support  of  our  Christian  testimon;^ 
against  war;  with  which  the  various  governments 
amongst  men  have  so  much  affinity, 

I  was  solemnly  impressed  ^\^th  the  importance  of 
the  trust,  when  about  to  undertake  the  commission, 
and  resolved  to  discharge  my  duty  therein; — yet, 
though  I  endeavored  to  perform  this,  to  the  best  of 
my  imderstanding,  I  never  felt  that  peace  of  mind 
which  I  desired,  during  my  continuance  in  office. 
This  brought  me  into  a  strict  scrutiny,  which  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  our  great 
Master's  declaration,  when  he  said,  '*  My  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world."  To  these  sentiments  and  princi- 
ples, my  mind  hatb  remained  steadfastly  attached, 
when,  at  different  times  since,  I  have  been  solicited 
to  accept  of  any  station  or  office,  either  in  the  legisla- 
tive or  executive  departments  of  government.  I 
know  the  mind  becomes,  at  least,  considerably  dis- 
qualified, for  the  promulgation  of  peace  and  good-will 
amongst  men,  when  it  embarks  in  himian  policy,  on 
its  fluctuating  sea  of  party  spirit,  that  gendercth  envy, 
malice,  revenge,  rents,  divisions,  and  war.  The  abun- 
dant use  of  oaths,  with  frequent  perjuries,  in  what 
relates  to  matters  of  government,  appears  to  me,  not 
only  a  manifest  violation  of  the  injunction  of  Christ 
to  his  followers,  "  Swear  not  at  all;''  because,  what- 
soever exceedeth  the  simple  and  plain  commimication 


COarnet  ^min.  83 

of  "Yea,  yea,  and  nav,  nay,  cometh  of  evil;" — but 
is  also  a  profanation  of  the  sacred  Xame. 

And  indeed,  I  have  felt  scnipulous  of  taking  an 
active  part  at  elections,  lest  I  should  not  only  become 
tinctured  mth  a  spirit  of  party  but  also  contribute, 
by  my  vote,  to  the  placing  in  power  of  those  who 
might  thereby  become  oppressors  of  tender  con- 
sciences. If  we  give  no  just  occasion  of  offence,  but 
are,  in  other  respects,  useful  members  of  the  com- 
munity, we  may,  without  censure,  be  permitted  to 
exercise  these  scruples;  and  it  would  be  more  to  the 
honour,  as  well  as  blessedness  of  the  world,  if  tender- 
ness of  conscience  was  more  cherished. 

To  resume  my  narrative.  I  was  concerned  in  the 
settlement  of  two  estates,  to  which  many  of  the  Afri- 
can race  belonged.  In  one  case,  they  were  willed  to 
the  heirs  particularly  named,  and,  as  executor,  I  at 
first  conceived  I  must  exercise  the  government  over 
them,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  settle  with  the  heirs. 
But  when  I  turned  solidly  to  consider  the  subject,  I 
felt  that  I  should  not  be  justified  in  doing  that  for 
another,  which  I  was  fully  convinced  was  a  sin  for  me 
to  do,  on  my  o^vn  account.  This  prospect  being  clear, 
a  solemn  impression,  which  I  believed  to  be  the  lan- 
guage of  holy  certainty,  was  made  on  my  mind,  that 
neither  I,  nor  mine,  should  ever  suffer,  by  my  dis- 
charging them:  and  this  intimation,  I  believe,  was 
never  doubted  by  me.    I  called  them  in,  and  let  them 


84  Mtt  anD  ancestcp  of 

know,  that,  so  far  as  I  had  power,  they  were  free. 
Some,  who  w^re  hired  by  their  own  consent,  I  in- 
formed, they  must  continue  the  time  out,  and  they 
should  have  their  wages;  and  likewise  all  their  earn- 
ings, since  their  master's  death..  This  was  fully  com- 
plied with,  on  my  part,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge : 
and,  according  to  my  faith,  so  was  +lie  event; — the 
several  heirs,  as  they  arrived  at  lawful  age,  con- 
firmed the  liberation  of  the  slaves,  and  released  me. 

I  also  found  an  engagement  to  make  restitution  to 
those  I  had  held  in  a  state  of  bondage,  for  the  time 
so  held;  which  was  done,  according  to  the  judgment 
of  indifferent  men,  agreed  on  by  the  blacks  and  my- 
self. And,  on  reflection,  I  found  I  had  so  much  hand 
in  selling  some,  as  to  bring  me  under  an  obligation 
to  release  them;  which  I  did,  to  a  considerable 
amount,  on  my  o^^^l  account,  my  then  wife's,  and 
some  who  had  belonged  to  her  father  and  grand- 
father. 

About  this  time,  I  was  appointed  on  a  committee, 
to  labour  \vith  the  members  of  our  society,  who  held 
slaves,  in  order  for  the  convincement  of  their  under- 
standings of  the  inconsistency  of  the  practice  with 
Christianity.  Which  labours  were  so  far  blest,  that 
in  a  little  time,  most  of  our  members  liberated  their 
slaves. 

Xow  great  stir  was  made,  as  if  the  country  was 
going  to  be  overturned  and  ruined.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  living  spirit  had  gone  forth,  to  deceive  the  peo- 


Watntt  Q^imin*  85 

pie.  On  setting  my  blacks  free,  I  thought  it  best  to 
put  them  from  me,  in  order  to  manifest  that  they 
were  free.  It  was  then  circulated,  that  Mifflin  had  set 
free  a  parcel  of  lazy,  worthless  negroes,  that  he  could 
make  nothing  by  them,  and  therefore  had  set  them 
at  liberty.  This  reflection,  however  unjust,  had  some 
weight  with  me ;  and  regarding  that  scripture  injunc- 
tion, "  let  not  then  your  good  be  evil  spoken  of,"  I 
thought  it  expedient  to  propose  their  having  land, 
and  teams;  and  in  return,  they  should  give  me  half 
their  produce.  This  was  put  in  execution  with  those 
who  chose  to  accept  the  terms.  Immediately,  the 
tune  was  turned,  and  it  was  reported,  that  Mifflin  was 
making  more  money  by  his  negroes  now,  than  ever, 
and  keeping  them  in  more  abject  slavery,  imder  the 
pretence  of  their  being  free.  I  then  determined  to 
do  what  I  believed  was  right,  not  regarding  the  un- 
bridled tongiies  of  men:  and  so  I  have  endeavored  to 
act,  passing  through  both  good  and  evil  report. 

Another  trial  occurred.  I  felt  religiously  engaged 
in  testimony  against  the  pernicious  use  of  ardent 
spirits,  so  generally  prevalent,  particularly  in  time  of 
harvest.  We  had  been  in  the  superfluous  use  of  it,  in 
my  family,  when  I  was  in  the  commission  of  the 
peace;  so  that  I  frequently  kept  the  bottle  and  the 
bowl  on  the  table,  from  morning  tiU  night:  it  being 
then,  and  I  fear  is  yet,  too  much  the  corrupt  manner, 
by  which  worldly  promotion  is  commonly  attained.  I 
now  found  a  sore  conflict  was  to  be  experienced,  in 


86  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

adopting  a  practice,  so  reverse  to  what  I  had  been  in, 
and  in  which  I  should  stand  alone.  And,  having  dis- 
charged my  slaves,  I  feared  I  might  never  be  able  to 
save  my  grain,  or  carry  on  my  farming  to  support 
my  family:  but  the  conviction  of  the  rectitude  of  this 
concern  was  such,  that  I  felt  constrained  to  make  the 
attempt.  I  had  a  number  of  people  at  work  in  my 
fields;  among  others,  a  master-mason  and  divers  of 
his  hands;  and  I  thought  if  he  became  reconciled  to 
work  without  spirits,  it  would  tend  to  settle  the  minds 
of  his  companions.  I  therefore  began  to  discourse 
with  him,  while  he  was  reaping:  when,  in  a  most 
shocking  manner,  he  damned  religion,  and  said  he 
would  have  rum.  This  so  affected  me,  that  I  left  the 
field, — apprehending  I  should  never  be  able  to  stem 
such  a  torrent.  But,  seriously  pondering  on  the  sub- 
ject and  the  concern  enlarging  in  my  view,  with  in- 
creasing weight,  it  was  sealed  on  my  understanding, 
that  if  I  should  hand  out  this  liquor,  and  any  life,  by 
its  means,  be  lost,  (as  I  had  several  times  seen  a  dan- 
ger of  being  the  case)  I  should  not  be  clear  of  the 
blood  of  such.  On  which,  I  determined,  through 
Divine  assistance,  never  to  use  it  again,  on  any  like 
occasions;  and,  with  thankfulness,  I  may  acknowl- 
edge, I  have  been  favoured  never  to  suffer  damage, 
through  the  disuse  of  it  in  my  fields;  and  have  been 
so  preserved  from  the  misapplication  of  it  since,  that 
in  all  my  concerns,  there  has  not  been  one  pint  used. 


COarnet  Mifflin,  87 

except  on  particular  occasions,  as  medicine,  and  that 
but  little. 

The  American  Revolution  now  began  to  make  its 
appearance;  and  as  I  was  religiously  restrained  from 
taking  any  part  therein,  the  epithet  of  toryism  was 
placed  on  me,  by  interested  holders  of  slaves.  In- 
sinuations were  also  thrown  out,  that  my  labour  for 
the  freedom  of  the  blacks  was  in  order  to  attach  them 
to  the  British  interest;  notwithstanding  I  had  liber- 
ated mine,  on  the  ground  of  religious  conviction, 
before  this  revolutionary  period  arrived.  Added  to 
this,  on  the  issuing  of  the  bills  of  credit,  by  CongTess, 
I  felt  restricted  from  receiving  them,  lest  I  might 
thereby,  in  some  sort,  defile  my  hands  with  one  of  the 
engines  of  war.  From  this  circumstance,  I  was  fur- 
ther dipped  into  sympathy  with  the  condition  of  the 
blacks;  for,  by  declining  to  use  the  paper  money,  I 
was  in  danger  of  being  declared  an  enemy  to  my 
country,  and  like  them,  to  be  thrown  out  from  the 
benefit  of  its  laws:  and  this  for  no  other  crime,  but 
yielding  to  the  impulses  of  Divine  grace,  or  obedience 
to  the  law  of  God,  written  in  my  heart ;  which  I  ever 
found  the  safest  ground  to  move  upon. 

Abundant  threats  Avere  poured  out,  that  my  house 
should  be  pulled  do^vn  over  my  head; — that  I  should 
be  shot,  carted,  &:c.  This  proved  a  fiery  trial,  and  my 
mind  was  almost  overwhelmed,  lest  I  should  bring  my 
family  to  want,  and  for  fear  that  it  might  be  through 


88  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

a  deception.  In  the  bitterness  of  my  soul,  I  left  my 
house  in  the  night-season,  and  walked  into  a  field;  but 
without  any  sensible  relief,  returned  again  to  the 
house.  On  stepping  in  at  the  door,  I  saw  a  Testa- 
ment, and  opening  it  at  the  13th  chapter  of  Kevela- 
tions,  found  mention  there  made  of  a  time  when  none 
should  buy  or  sell,  but  those  who  received  the  mark 
of  the  beast,  in  the  right  hand,  or  forehead.  Xow,  it 
fixed  in  my  mind,  that  if  I  took  that  money,  after 
receiving  those  impressions,  I  should  receive  a  mark 
of  the  bestial  spirit  of  war,  in  my  right  hand,  and 
then,  the  penalty  which  is  annexed,  and  described  in 
the  ensuing  chapter,  must  follow.  I  then  resolved, 
through  the  Lord's  assistance,  (wliich  I  craved  might 
be  afforded,)  let  what  would  follow,  never  to  deal  in 
any  of  it.  This  afforded  me  some  relief;  and,  finding 
my  wife  so  far  united  with  me,  as  to  refuse  it  like- 
wise, she  saying,  though  she  did  not  feel  the  matter 
as  I  did,  yet,  for  fear  of  weakening  my  hands,  she 
was  most  easy  not  to  touch  it, — I  became  much 
strengthened,  and  resigned  to  suffer  what  might  be 
permitted;  feeling,  at  times,  the  prevalence  of  that 
Power,  which  delivers  from  all  fear  of  the  malice  of 
men,  or  infernal  spirits,  and  which  reduces  the  soul 
into  perfect  subjection  to  the  holy  will,  and  ordering 
of  the  Divine  Providence. 

Light  seems  to  be  increasingly  spreading,  on  this 
subject;  or,  at  least,  more  are  disposed  to  yield  to  its 
emanations,  than  heretofore.     An   instance    of   this 


tOarner  Q^ifflm,  89 

appears  in  a  pamphlet,  written  by  a  clergyman,  in 
England,  and  lately  reprinted  in  Philadelphia,  which 
I  would  recommend  to  the  perusal  of  my  readers.  In 
it  are  these  remarks:  "  Such  is  the  dread  of  singu- 
larity, in  dissenting  from  opinions,  sanctioned  by 
public  approbation  and  applause,  that  but  few  have 
courage  to  forsake  the  beaten  track,  and  think  for 
themselves,  in  matters  confessedly  of  the  highest 
importance.  And  thus,  the  specious  reasonings  and 
conclusions  of  men,  who  have  no  better  claim  to  infal- 
libility than  ourselves, — are  suffered  to  divert  us 
from  a  simple  attention  to  the  example,  and  un-am- 
biguous  precepts  of  him,  who  has  presented  to  us,  in 
his  own  sacred  person,  celestial  excellence,  and  the 
most  complete  pattern  of  all  moral  virtue.  On  sub- 
jects, which  do  not  relate  to  the  great  truths  of  relig- 
ion, we  may  be  indifferent;  and  it  is,  doubtless,  best 
not  to  be  earnest  and  tenacious  for  either  side  of  the 
question:  but,  in  relation  to  doctrines,  upon  the  estab- 
lishment and  promulgation  of  which,  the  temporal, 
and  perhaps  the  eternal  welfare  of  Millions,  to  some 
measure,  depends, — it  is  the  duty  of  interest  of  every 
one  to  search  for  truth,  as  for  hid  treasure; — to  be 
fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind,  that  his  principles 
are  founded  in  immutable  Truth,  and  unerring  recti- 
tude. Let  such  then  unfold  the  sacred  volume,  and 
say  in  what  part  of  it  they  can  find  any  passage,  that 
will,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  prove  war  to  be 
justifiable,  on   Christian   principles; — that   will   fur- 


90  Life  anD  3ncestrp  of 

nish  one  argument  in  favour  of  a  Christian's  endeav- 
ouring to  injure  his  fellow-creature,  even  his  most 
bitter  and  inveterate  enemy,  so  much  as  in  thought; 
— or,  what  is  more,  that  can  justify  him  in  dislodging 
a  human  soul  from  its  appointed  tabernacle,  by 
destroying  that  life,  which  he  neither  gave,  nor  can 
restore.  Do  not  the  doctrines  of  the  Xew  Testament 
uniformly  declare  against  it ;  and  most  expressly  and 
unequivocally  prove,  that  war  is  directly  opposed  to 
the  very  aim  and  end  of  Christianity;  which  offers 
reconciliation  to  the  greatest  offenders,  and  makes  our 
acceptance  with  God,  absolutely  to  depend  on  our 
forgiveness  of  those,  by  whom  we,  ourselves,  have 
been  injured." 

"  What  can  be  said  in  extenuation  of  the  guilt  of 
those  who  set  others  on  to  war,  who  never  saw  each 
otlior's  faces,  nor  even  had  any  possible  occasion  for 
hatred  or  animosity?  Who  can  say  that  such  are 
more  innocent,  than  the  duelist  and  suicide,  or  less 
deser^^ng  the  punishment  due  to  such  heinous 
offences  against  the  Divine  law  ?  " 

An  occurrence  took  place,  which  produced  renewed 
exercise  of  niind,  and,  in  the  hour  of  affliction,  sealed 
further  instruction  on  this  subject.  I  received  a 
severe  hurt  on  my  leg;  and  while  under  extreme 
anguish  in  dressing  it,  was  brought  into  sympathy 
with  a  poor  soldier,  whose  leg  being  fractured,  he 
was  left  without  help,  in  the  field  of  battle.  Even 
since  arriving  to  years,  capable  of  judging,  I  have 


2^atnet  Q^ifflin*  9i 

had  a  testimouy  against  war;  but  never  so  powerfully 
impressive,  as  at  that  time.  So  that  I  told  my  wife, 
if  every  farthing  we  possessed  was  seized  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supporting  war,  and  I  was  informed  that  it 
should  all  go,  unless  I  voluntarily  gave  a  shilling,  I 
was  satisfied  I  should  not  so  redeem  it. 

Shortly  after  this,  an  account  arrived,  that  a  vessel 
from  the  West  Indies  was  run  ashore,  by  the  Eng- 
lish, at  Lewistown;  and  the  militia  were  called  upon 
to  keep  them  from  plimdering  her.  On  hearing 
which,  this  clear  presentation  took  place :  here  is  the 
channel,  through  which,  in  a  time  of  national  hostil- 
ity, those  sweets  that  I  am  so  fond  of,  come,  at  the 
manifest  risk  of  the  lives  of  my  fellow-men.  I  re- 
membered, impressively,  what  were  David's  sensa- 
tions, when  his  valiant  men  rushed  through  the  Phil- 
istine army,  to  bring  him  water  from  a  well,  which 
he  longed  for.  He  was  struck  ^^-ith  sympathy  for 
them;  and  because  they  went  in  jeopardy  of  their 
lives,  he  was  not  easy  to  gTatify  his  palate  therewith, 
but  poured  it  out,  in  dedication  to  the  Lord.  In  like 
manner,  I  felt  a  prohibition  from  using  foreign  im- 
ports; and,  during  the  continuance  of  the  war,  never 
touched  there^vith,  except  what  seasoning  of  salt 
might  have  been  in  my  food,  when  from  home.  And, 
being  brought  into  deep  feeling  for  the  oppressions 
of  the  poor  Africans,  in  the  West  Indies,  I  have  not 
been  easy  with  indulging  myself  in  using  the  produce 
of  their  labour,  since;  lest  it  should,  even  in  a  small 


92  Life  aiiD  ance$tcp  of 

degree,  contribute  towards  the  continued  existence 
of  a  trade,  which  interests  the  i)lanters  in  keeping  up 
the  numbers  of  their  groaning  labourers. 

The  revolutionary  war  advancing,  with  increasing 
distress,  gloomy  prospects  opened,  and  close  pro\'ings 
seemed  at  the  door  of  such  as  were  measurably  re- 
deemed from  the  spirit  of  party.  J^ot  only  our  testi- 
mony against  war,  in  the  support  of  which,  our  relig- 
ious society  has  often  been  brought  under  trials;  but 
that,  against  pulling  do^vn  or  setting  up,  govern- 
ments, was  brought  to  the  test.  There  are  those  who, 
from  full  experience,  know  that  it  is  not  a  cminingly 
devised  fable,  but  the  Truth  of  God  revealed  in  the 
heart,  which  shows  us  that  we  are  called  to  exalt  the 
pure  standard  of  the  Prince  of  peace,  above  all  party 
rage,  strife,  contention,  rents  and  divisions,  in  the 
spirit  of  meekness  and  wisdom;  and,  in  quietness  and 
confidence,  patiently  to  suffer  for  the  promotion  of 
this  peaceable  government  of  Christ,  manifested  in 
and  through  an  innocent  life  and  conversation,  in 
which  the  language  is  felt,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest;  on  earth,  peace  and  good-will  to  men." 

This  has  been  the  experience  of  many;  and  such 
were  my  own  sensations,  when,  at  one  view,  I  beheld 
both  armies,  and  had  to  risk  a  passage  through  them. 
I  counted  none  of  my  enemy,  I  felt  no  fear  from 
anything  on  my  part,  either  in  thought,  word  or 
deed;  many  times  concluding,  I  should  have  no  objec- 
tion for  the  tw'o  contending  generals  to  have  known 


matmt  ^imUh  93 

my  whole  heart  and  conduct.  At  an  early  period  of 
that  calamity,  I  had  been  convinced  that  it  would  not 
do  for  me,  even  in  thought,  to  wander  without  the 
boimdaries  of  my  professed  principles;  otherwise  I 
could  not  expect  to  be  sustained  by  the  God  of  the 
f aitliful,  whose  everlasting  arm  of  help,  with  humble 
gratitude  I  may  acknowledge,  hath  been  stretched 
out  for  my  strengthening  and  confirmation,  in  divers 
instances:  one  of  which  was,  when  called  upon,  among 
others,  for  the  support  of  Truth,  to  appear  before  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  on  behalf  of  our  Friends, 
who  were  banished  from  Philadelphia  to  Virginia. 
Another,  when  on  the  day  of  the  battle  at  German- 
town,  our  Yearly  Meeting  issued  a  testimony  respect- 
ing our  peaceable  principles, — I  was  one,  among 
others,  appointed  to  present  it  to  the  commander-in- 
chief,  of  each  array.  This  was  a  proving  time, — to 
pass  through  opposing  armies,  most  of  whose  minds 
were  probably  agitated,  and  many  of  them  afresh 
fired,  by  the  spirit  of  war,  from  their  recent  engage- 
ment;— and  with  no  passport  or  shield  to  protect  us 
from  any  merciless  attack,  but  our  own  innocence, 
sheltered  by  the  wing  of  Divine  preservation.  But 
herein,  I  was  brought  into  renewed  sympathy  with 
our  oppressed  brethren  of  the  African  race,  many  of 
whom  are  exposed  to  the  uncontrolled  power  of  man, 
without  any  earthly  tribunal,  whereunto  they  can 
appeal  for  redress  of  grievanc€s. 

Through   many   similar   exercises,   with  frequent 


94  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

demands  for,  though  but  little  seizure  of,  my  prop- 
erty, I  passed  along,  till  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
great  spoil  was  made.  But,  at  length,  through  a 
steady  perseverance,  things  began  to  wear  a  differ- 
ent aspect;  hard  speeches,  sour  looks,  and  threats 
gradually  abated, — and  throughout  the  whole,  I  had 
not  an  insult  offered  to  me,  in  person. 

Congress  having  pubhshed  a  declaration,  that  they 
"  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident; — that  all  men 
are  created  equal; — that  they  are  endowed  by  their 
Creator,  mth  certain  inalienable  rights; — that, 
among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  hap- 
piness;— and  that,  to  secure  these  rights,  govern- 
ments are  instituted  among  men."  And  seeing  this 
was  the  very  substance  of  the  doctrine  I  had  been 
concerned  to  promulgate,  for  years, — I  became  ani- 
mated with  a  hope,  that  if  the  representatives  were 
sincere,  and  inculcated  these  views  among  the  people 
generally,  a  blessing  to  this  nation  would  accompany 
those  endeavours. 

To  serve  my  country,  by  my  exertions  to  remove 
one  cause  of  impending  judgment,  I  was  concerned 
to  unite  with  my  brethren,  in  representing  the  case 
of  the  enslaved  Africans,  to  different  legislative 
bodies.  In  the  year  1782,  we  appeared  before  the 
Assembly  of  Virginia;  which  was  attended  with  great 
satisfaction,  ha^^ng  a  set  of  liberal-spirited  members 
to  deal  with; — when  a  law  took  place,  admitting  of 
emancipation:   to  which  law,  Judge  Tucker,  in  his 


late  publication,  sajs,  may  be  attributed  the  libera- 
tion of  some  thousands  of  blacks.  In  1783,  we  pre- 
sented a  memorial  to  Congress,  respecting  the  slave- 
trade;  and  met  \nth  encouragement.  Afterwards,  in 
the  legislatures  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Dela- 
ware, some  important  steps  were  taken.  Also,  in  our 
subsequent  application  to  Congress,  it  was  evident 
that  a  large  part  of  that  body  were  favourably  dis- 
posed towards  the  rights  of  this  people. 

From  these  encouraging  circumstances,  T  was 
induced  to  hope  that  Divine  favour  might  yet  be 
continued  to  this  land;  yet  I  was  often  impressed 
with  fears,  that  our  progress  in  this  business  was  not 
proportionable  to  the  light  which  had  arisen.  Indeed, 
it  is  a  mournful  consideration,  that  this  nation  should 
yet  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  African  slave- 
trade;  and  that  seven  hundred  thousand  slaves,  ac- 
cording to  late  calcidation,  should  continue  to  groan, 
in  a  land  of  boasted  liberty.  My  heart  has  been 
grieved,  and  my  soul  has  lamented,  for  this  afflicted 
race,  as  well  as  for  the  condition  of  my  country;  hav- 
ing often  felt  apprehensive  that  the  hand  of  judg- 
ment would  be  stretched  out  upon  a  guilty  people,  if 
there  was  not  a  greater  reformation  from  this,  and 
other  evils  and  vices,  too  prevalent  in  the  land. 

Fully  believing  that  '"  righteousness  exalteth  a  na- 
tion, but  sin  is  a  shame  to  any  people," — I  am 
anxiously  desirous  that  we  may  be  numbered  with  the 
wise  promoters  of  the  public  good.     For  I  am  per- 


96  Life  anD  Znttmv  of 

snaded,  that  the  growing  sins  of  America,  if  persisted 
in,  will  finally  be  attended  with  dreadful  conse- 
quences; according  to  the  testimony  of  the  sacred 
record,  that,  verily,  there  is  a  reward  for  the  right- 
eous; and  verily,  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the 
earth.  In  the  due  exercise  of  his  judgment,  taking 
cognizance  of  the  actions  of  men,  he  will  assuredly 
recompence  to  all,  according  to  the  fruit  of  their 
doings; — to  nations,  as  well  as  to  individuals; — let 
the  sophist  speculate  as  he  will,  about  sacred  things, 
in  that  wisdom  which  darkens  counsel,  by  words  with- 
out true  knowledge. 

It  is  from  a  sense  of  duty,  both  to  myself  and  my 
country,  that  I  make  these  observations,  and  state 
some  things,  interesting  to  both.  It  was  on  this 
ground,  I  became  engaged  with  others,  to  urge  the 
subject  of  our  righteous  concern  to  different  legisla- 
tures; in  order  to  remove  legislative  obstacles  from 
those  who  are  disposed  to  liberate  their  slaves,  and  to 
protect  those  who  are  set  free.  And  though 
salutary  laws  have  been  enacted  in  some  States,  for 
which,  I  believe,  a  blessing  wnll  attend  them,  yet  still 
the  evil  is  continued  in  other  parts;  where  conscien- 
tious persons  are  discouraged  from  liberating  their 
slaves, — as,  by  existing  laws,  tke  blacks  are  liable 
again  to  be  taken  into  bondage,  by  dissolute  people 
who  are  disposed  to  avail  themslves  of  unrighteous 
laws;  and  in  many  instances,  great  numbers  have 
been  ornellv  seized,  and  sold  into  renewed  bondage. 


COarner  Q^ifflin.  97 

Doth  this  not  excite  a  fearful  apprehension,  that  the 
measure  of  their  iniquity  is  filling  up,  who  so  act,  and 
that  they  are  ripening  for  the  chastisement  which 
shall  be  poured  upon  the  workers  of  iniquity  ?  An 
additional  enormity  prevailing,  is,  the  kidnapping  of 
free  blacks,  carrying  them  off,  and  selling  them  for 
slaves; — in  some  instances,  whole  families,  and  in 
others,  separating  them  one  from  another. 

It  is  urged  as  a  great  objection  to  the  emancipation 
of  the  blacks,  their  disposition  to  pilfering. — But,  is 
not  the  depriving  of  them  of  that  most  valuable  prop- 
erty, liberty, — and  keeping  them  under  the  oppres- 
sion of  slavery,  the  very  cause  of  this  fault  ?  Being 
pinched,  at  times,  for  every  necessary  of  life,  they 
put  forth  a  hand  to  partake  of  what,  in  equity,  their 
labour  gives  them  some  claim  to  from  their  pos- 
sessors, where  due  support  is  withheld:  And  these 
practices  becoming  habitual  in  their  impoverished 
condition,  they  discriminate  not  sufficiently  between 
the  property  of  those  they  labour  for,  and  others ;  but 
when  opportunity  presents,  frequently  supply  their 
wants  from  all  alike,  except  when  a  principle  of  re- 
ligious rectitude  restrains  from  all  such  acts.  I 
attempt  not  to  palKate  the  crime.  I  have  endeav- 
oured, what  lay  in  my  power,  to  discourage  such  pro- 
ceedings, and  to  point  out  the  necessity  of  departing 
from  these  practices, — labouring  to  inculcate  the 
Christian  doctrine  of  returning  good  for  evil,  where- 
by they  might  know  an  overcoming  of  evil  with  good. 


98  Mtt  anD  3nce$ttp  of 

But  as  slavery  decreases,  and  becomes  exploded,  we 
may  reasonably  hope  its  concomitant  habits  will  also 
decrease  and  a  greater  nobility  of  soul  take  place.  I 
believe  the  Almighty  has  arisen  in  judgment,  in  this 
business, — and  that  his  voice  will  be  found  to  exceed 
the  sound  of  many  waters,  or  all  the  cavils  of  tke 
people,  and  will  finally  over-power  all  opposition. 

If  we  were  more  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  our 
duty  towards  God,  and  this  people,  I  believe  they 
would  act  differently  towards  us.  But  where  do 
negro  crimes  exceed  the  crimes  of  white  people  ? 
When  we  see  men,  selling  tender  babes  from  a  fond 
mother, — a  beloved  wife,  from  an  affectionate  hus- 
band,— or,  an  aged  father  from  his  offspring,  with 
whom  he  lived  from  their  early  years; — Ah!  what 
language  can  paint,  in  its  genuine  colours,  this  abomi- 
nable practice ! ! 

How  rejoicing  would  it  be  to  me,  if,  with  Divine 
allowance,  I  might  be  placed  in  a  situation,  exempt 
from  that  continued  grief  of  soul,  which  is  almost 
daily  renewed,  by  seeing  and  hearing  those  acts  of 
inhumanity,  committed  by  my  countrymen !  Could 
I  have  believed  myself  authorised  by  the  approbation 
of  heaven,  I  should,  long  ere  this  time,  have  sought 
an  asylum,  in  some  other  quarter.  But  I  desire  to 
be  found  in  my  proper  allotment,  the  little  time  I 
may  be  here, — faithfully  discharging  my  duty 
towards  my  Creator,  and  my  country. 

Some  advance  that  negroes  pay  no  regard  to  the 


m^mtt  ^itain.  99 

natural  ties  of  husband  and  wife,  parent  and  child; 
but  I  know  to  the  contrary.  Unnatural  and  hard- 
ened characters  there  are  in  all  nations;  but  that 
such  abound  more,  among  this  people  than  others,  in 
proportion  to  their  circumstances,  I  cannot  admit. 
Where  such  instances  have  occurred,  to  whom  must 
we  attribute  the  fault  ?  To  the  poor,  degraded  blacks; 
or  to  the  nominal  professors  of  the  blessed  name  of 
Christ  ? 

It  has  been  reported  that  I  have  persuaded  the 
blacks  to  run  from  their  masters,  and  that  I  give 
them  passes  whenever  they  apply,  \vithout  discrimi- 
nating between  those  who  are  free,  and  others.  But 
it  is  the  reverse  of  my  judgment  of  propriety,  in  pre- 
serv'ing  the  peace  of  society,  to  persuade  these  peo- 
ple from  their  claimers'  service;  and  beneath  the  up- 
rightness of  my  profession,  to  recommend  any  as  free 
people,  who  are  not  such.  I  believe  a  cause  that  is 
sanctioned  by  omnipotent  Goodness,  needs  no  such 
efforts  to  make  it  successful:  but  the  more  pure  and 
upright  its  espousers  are,  the  more  it  will  be  ad- 
vanced. I  believe  the  voice  of  the  spiritual  Moses, 
even  the  Lord  from  heaven,  who  is  a  quickening 
spirit,  has  been  as  intelligibly  sounded  in  the  ears  of 
Americans,  as  the  voice  of  Moses  was  formerly  heard 
by  the  Egyptians:  and  "if  they  escaped  not,  who 
refused  him  that  spake  on  earth,  how  much  more 
shall  not  we  escape,  if  we  turn  away  from  him  who 
speaketh  from  heaven  ?  " 


100  Life  anD  ^ncestrp  of 

I  am  troubled  at  seeing  any  run  from  their  mas- 
ters, and  generally  counsel  such,  that  it  is  my  judg- 
ment they  had  better  remain  at  home,  in  quiet  resig- 
nation, as  much  as  possible,  to  their  allotment;  and 
that,  if  through  a  good  conduct  they  should  obtain 
favour  of  their  Maker,  he  could  change  the  hearts  of 
their  possessors,  and  induce  them  to  set  them  free. 
Some  have  taken  my  counsel,  and  returned;  others 
have  judged  best  to  pursue  their  own  prospects,  let 
the  event  be  as  it  might. 

Is  there  a  white  man  among  thousands,  who,  if  cap- 
tured by  the  Algerines,  would  not  embrace  his  lib- 
erty, should  opportunity  present?  If  I  were  a  hu- 
mane Algerine,  residing  in  their  land,  and  an  Ameri- 
can, in  escaping  from  his  master,  ventured  to  call  at 
my  house,  informing  that  he  had  not  eaten  anj-thing 
for  several  days, — would  his  countrymen  judge  it 
criminal  in  me,  to  feed  him?  What  then  should  be 
the  conduct  of  the  high  professors  of  Christianity,  in 
a  similar  case,  towards  a  people  who  differ  from  us,  by 
a  few  darker  shades  of  the  skin  ?  Is  there  any  part  of 
our  religion  that  would  authorize  us  to  seize  such,  and 
drag  them  again  into  bondage  ?  Or,  would  it  not  be 
as  great  a  violation  of  the  righteous  law  of  God,  who, 
as  scripture  testifies,  is  no  respecter  of  persons,  but 
hath  created  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men, — to 
seize  on  one  of  a  dark  complexion,  as  one  of  a  fairer 
hue? 

I  dread  the  consequence  of  a  continuance  of  wrong 


Waxmt  ^imin.  loi 

things,  in  our  land.  Have  we  not  seen  evident  tokens 
of  Divine  displeasure  ?  Hath  not  the  sword,  the 
famine,  and  the  pestilence,  made  their  appearance,  in 
various  places  ?  And,  as  a  gentle  rod  shaken  over  us, 
are  thev  not  calling  loudly  for  greater  degrees  of 
humility,  repentance,  and  amendment  of  life;  lest 
Omnipotence  should  pour  forth  upon  us  more  abun- 
dantly the  vials  of  his  wrath;  and  tribulation,  an- 
guish, and  woe  should  be  the  complicated  portion  of 
the  inhabitants  of  this  land.  Let  us  then,  by  a  strict 
attention  to  the  discharge  of  our  duty  towards  God 
and  man,  so  act  as  to  invite  the  blessings  of  the  Lord 
upon  us — for  he  is  ever  ready  to  shower  down  his 
favours  on  the  obedient  workmanship  of  his  hands. 
That  this  may  be  our  happy  experience,  is  the  desire 
and  prayer  of  a  lover  of  his  country,  and  country- 
men, a  peaceable  subject  to  its  laws,  and  a  tmiversal 
friend  to  mankind. 

Waexer  !Mjfflin. 


Kent,  on  Delaware,  11th  mo.,  1796. 


A  LETTER  TO  WARNER  MIFFLIN. 

To  the  Respectable 

Warner  Mifflin, 

North  America. 


Respectable  Warner  Mifflin !  Thou  whose  virtues 
have  penetrated  me  with  esteem  for  thyself;  and  with 
gratitude  to  the  Supreme  Being,  who  Amidst  a  race 
of  earnel  perfidious  men  has  sent  into  the  world  such 
a  person  as  thou  art,  for  the  consolation  &  honor  of 
human  nature.  Think  not  unworthily  of  this  little 
tribute  of  commendation  which  a  Frenchman  is  eager 
to  render  to  thy  virtues.  It  is  a  Philanthropist,  and 
consequently  one  of  thy  friends,  who  Avrites  this  let- 
ter, and  who  wishes  not  to  flatter  thee  but  to  return 
the  thanks  for  the  good  Example  thou  settest  to  thy 
fellow  creatures,  and  for  the  benefits  which  thou  con- 
ferest  on  them. 

Yes!  in  my  rural  retirement  I  will  consecrate  to 
thee  a  Monument  in  the  midst  of  my  Groves.  Yes ! 
an  inscription  consisting  only  of  a  recital  of  the  bene- 
fits thou  hast  bestowed  on  Mankind,  shall  serve  as  a 

102 


2^atner  ^imin*  i03 

lesson   and   an   example   to  my  Children  and  to  our 
more  remote  posterity. 

(Sgd)  LOMERIE 

Member  of  the  philanthropic  Society  of  Paris — 

of  the  Royal  Society  of  agriculture  of  the 

same  City  and  of  the  Society  of  arts  of 

London. — Write  to  the  Address 

of     Messrs.      at 

Haver    de    Grace 


FROM  THE  DIARY  OF  ELIZABETH 
DRIXKER. 

"  Oct.  11,  1777.  Warner  ^^Fifflin  and  party  re- 
turned from  visit  to  G.  Washington."     (p.  58.) 

"  Dec.  2,  1777.  AVarner  Mifflin  called,  and  sat  with 
others   smoking   their  pipes   until   after   3   o'clock." 

(p.  '^0.) 

"  Dec.  6,  1794."  :Mentions  a  negi'o  boy  sent  "  from 
one  of  the  lower  counties,  Kent,  I  believe  it  was,"  by 
Warner  Mifflin;  price  15  pounds,     (p.  250.) 

"  Apl.  5,  1797.  Warner  and  Xancy  Mifflin,  and 
Alexander  Martin,  member  of  Congress  and  formerly 
Governor  of  North  Carolina,  took  tea  with  us." 
(p.  300.) 


TWO  LETTERS  FROM  WARXER  MIFFLIX  TO 
HEXRY  DRIXItER/ 

LETTER  TO   HEXEY  DEINKEK. 

Dear  Friend: — I  should  have  wrote  thee  before 
this,  I  believe,  had  not  William  Savery  come  along 
and  got  some  account  how  matters  went  in  our  con- 
vention, but  I  have  been  uneasy  since  that  I  had  not, 
thinking  it  was  incumbent  on  us  so  to  have  done.  I 
therefore  give  thee  a  short  hint  thereof.  I  believe  I 
attended  them  every  day  through  their  sittings  except 
one  meeting-day,  and  I  am  very  strongly  suspicious 
that  John  Dickinson  knew  that  was  our  meeting-day, 
as  he  then  moved  that  the  blacks  should  be  prevented 
by  the  constitution  from  purchasing  real  property, 
etc.,  his  conduct  respecting  the  blacks  and  the  con- 
scientiously scrupulous  against  arms,  induced  one  to 
believe  that  he  was  as  great  an  enemy  to  the  cause  of 
righteousness  as  was  in  that  body.  I  told  him  so  in 
a  letter  delivered  him  myself  the  last  day,  and  I  do 
verily  believe  if  any  one  Presbyterian  in  Xew  Castle 
County  had  been  there  in  his  place,  something  would 
have  been  done  in  both  cases,  he  was  in  the  way.  I 
told  him  those  that  came  the  nearest  to  the  truth  and 
were  not  in  it,  and  profess  it,  were  its  greatest  ene- 
mies.  They  have  expunged  the  article  respecting  the 

' "  Searches    Among    Old    Papers — Xo.    8,"    printed    in    The 
Friend. 

104 


Wavnzx  Q^ifQin.  los 

militia,  but  altered  the  first  respecting  conscience,  con- 
fining the  rights  of  conscience  to  what  they  call  wor- 
ship. I  called  Coram  out  just  after  he  had  spoke  on 
this  subject,  and  queried  who  gave  him  the  power  to 
limit  and  square  the  rights  of  other  men's  consciences 
within  such  limited  bounds,  as  such  a  circle.  I  told 
him  it  was  necessary  to  vary  his  expressions,  for  if  he 
limited  the  rights  of  conscience  he  was  an  usurper — 
he  ought  to  vary  it  to  something  approved  or  pre- 
tended for,  that  the  rights  of  conscience  were  sacred. 
And  I  called  out  several  of  the  Presbyterians,  and 
told  them  that  if  Presbyterians  would  only  give 
Quakers  as  good  a  government  as  Quakers  gave  Pres- 
byterians upwards  of  a  century  back,  we  should  not 
complain,  after  they  had  such  a  length  of  time  to 
improve  and  reform,  that  I  was  sorry  to  find  that  the 
seeds  of  persecution  were  manifest  more  within  the 
limits  of  Penn's  lines  among  the  Presbyterians  than 
any  other  part  of  the  United  States.  I  was  sorry  it 
was  yet  among  them.  I  asked  liberty  to  speak  among 
them  on  this  subject,  in  convention,  which  was  read- 
ily granted.  I  let  them  know  we  were  on  that  groimd 
not  to  be  disappointed,  and  I  hope  we  were  prepared 
to  receive  their  determination.  Be  it  as  it  might,  I 
believed  it  was  not  likely  to  put  us  in  a  worse  situa- 
tion than  we  had  been,  that  we  had  a  sufficiency  yet 
left,  and  that  if  they  preferred  oppressing  tender  con- 
sciences, that  a  curse  instead  of  a  blessing  would  be 
likely  to  attend  their  fines  and  penalties,  that  our 


106  Life  anD  3ncestrp  of 

consolation  would  be  that  we  had  discharged  our 
duty,  and  leave  the  event.  A  motion  was  made  near 
their  conclusion  that  no  slave  should  be  exported  or 
imported  into  the  State.  This  made  some  warmth. 
Sussex  members  picked  up  their  hats  and  ran  out, 
that  on  the  vote  there  was  then  but  seventeen  would 
vote — eight  for  and  nine  against  the  motion.  This 
was  ill-timed.    I  did  not  jDromote  it,  so  it  stands. 

I  received  a  few  lines  the  other  day  from  Caspar 
W.  Haines,  mentioning  a  debt  due  from  —  Wallis 
to  his  father,  and  that  in  some  way  thou  would  have 
to  pay  money  to  Wallace,  that  he  had  spoken  to  thee 
respecting  my  debt  due  thee,  and  that  thou  was  will- 
ing to  settle  it  in  this  way,  which  is  very  agreeable  to 
me  and  the  more  so,  as  it  is  to  them,  I  expected  to 
have  received  information  from  thee,  whether  a  turn 
was  likely  to  answer  as  was  talked  of  respecting  Pope, 
but  not  having  heard  from  thee,  I  intended  to  have 
given  thee  a  draft  for  some  money  I  had  in  Philadel- 
phia when  thou  was  down,  but  thou  did  start  sooner 
than  I  expected.  Thou  wilt  therefore  please  settle 
my  bond  in  this  way,  and  I  shall  leave  it  with  Caspar 
to  discharge  the  whole  of  his  father's  bond,  or  only 
so  much  as  will  discharge  that  balance  \vith  me,  as 
may  best  suit  his  conveniency,  of  which  thou  can 
inform  me — though  I  shall  write  a  few  lines  to  him. 

I  want  to  send  the  paper  I  read  to  thee  and  Thomas 
Mooney  for  the  consideration  of  Friends — circum- 
stances call  for  something  being  done  in  some  way. 


^iQarner  Mifflin.  107 

The  infernal  business  continues,  and  the  clamor 
against  me  in  Maryland  increases.  What  will  the 
issue  be — perhaps  the  march  through  the  land  of 
what  is  called  the  Hessian  fly  will  do  something,  as  it 
has  made  its  appearance  in  our  neighborhood,  as  well 
as  other  strokes  at  the  wheat — scale  and  rust. 

I  should  like  to  be  at  your  Quarter  if  an  engage- 
ment on  appointment  of  our  own  Quarter  does  not 
overbalance  at  that  time — whether  or  not  I  expect 
thou  may  hear  from  me  before  that  time.  In  haste,  I 
am  with  love  to  self  and  family,  thy  affectionate 
friend, 

Warner  Mifflin. 

Sixth  Month  27th,  1792. 


Head  of  Sassafras, 

6th  of  Eighth  Month,  1792.' 

Respected  Friend^  Henry  Drinker: — Being  at  this 
place,  attending  with  a  Committee  of  our  Quarterly 
Meeting,  of  which  number  are  our  friends,  Trustrem 
Xeedles  and  Mary  Berry,  when  the  former  showed 
me  a  letter  which  he  received  from  John  Fariss,  re- 
specting the  wagon  that  the  European  Friend  had, 
that  he  had  given  some  directions  to  inquire  after, 
informing   that    it    might    be    had    for    twenty-five 

' "  Searches  Among  Old  Papers — No.  10,"  printed  in  The 
Friend. 


108  Life  anD  ^mtmv  of 

pounds,  and  was  under  thy  direction.  Trustrem  said 
he  did  not  know  what  to  do  about  it;  that  he  was 
requested  to  give  a  speedy  answer ;  that  he  was  unpro- 
vided with  the  money,  or  he  would  have  sent  it  up. 
It  brought  me  into  a  feeling  on  the  occasion,  finding 
that  I  was  interested  therein  as  well  as  he,  which 
induced  me  to  ask  how  that  wagon  was  purchased,  as 
I  knew  nothing  about  it.  A  Friend  present  said  it 
was  purchased  Avith  the  Yearly  Meeting  stock.  On 
which  I  thought  whether  it  would  be  improper  to  be 
used  on  the  present  occasion  to  take  our  friend,  Mary 
Berry,  to  Carolina  while  it  remains  the  property  of 
the  Yearly  Meeting,  or  whether  the  Yearly  Meeting 
stock  is  not  used  in  that  way  for  any  but  Europeans. 
I  never  saw  one  year's  accounts  of  our  Yearly  Meet- 
ing in  my  life,  but  I  thought  I  would  propose  this 
matter  for  thy  consideration,  and  if  it  is  improper  I 
think  it  will  lay  with  the  members  of  our  Quarterly 
Meeting  more  generally.  I  think  it  is  not  right  to 
suffer  any  one  Monthly  Meeting  to  be  too  much 
straightened  on  such  account,  and  propose  to  take 
some  order  therein  when  I  receive  an  answer  from 
thee,  w^hich  I  shall  be  pleased  to  receive  as  quick  as 
possible,  in  order  to  return  the  necessary  answer,  as 
I  do  expect  the  wagon  will  be  depended  on  for  this 
journey. 

Had  it  not  been  that  this  business  I  am  now  here 
upon  had  interfered  at  this  time,  I  intended  at  your 
Quarter.     I  want  the  consideration  of  some  Friend 


Earner  Q^ifflin*  109 

on  some  of  mv  performances  very  much.  My  con- 
flict on  account  of  the  poor  blacks  is  as  great  as  ever, 
and  a  small  addition  thereto  is  by  a  great  man  living 
in  Maryland,  by  will,  leaving  me  four  of  his  favorite 
negroes  (the  will  being  made  before  the  law  was 
passed  authorizing  freeing  by  will),  one  of  them  com- 
ing to  me  with  a  letter  from  the  executor,  was  taken 
up  by  a  tavern-keeper,  tied  and  kept  all  night,  and 
next  day  robbed  of  his  money — of  which  I  have  clear 
proof.  The  negro  had  sufficient  and  clear  pass.  My 
babe  has  the  ague.  The  rest  of  my  family  were  toler- 
ably well.  My  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  has  left 
me  since  thou  was  down.  She  is  married  to  Clayton 
Cowgill,  eldest  son  of  our  valued  friend,  John  Cow- 
gill,  deceased,  which,  though  agreeable  to  me,  yet  I 
foimd  it  a  great  thing  to  give  up  to,  the  parting  vnth. 
a  child.  What  would  I  do,  then,  if  I  was  a  negro, 
and  had  a  daughter  carried  from  me  to  Carolina? 
Oh,  this ! 

My   kind   love   to    self   and  family  and  inquiring 
friends.    Thine  in  heart, 

Warner  Mifflin. 


WARIs'ER  MIFFLIN'S  OFFICIAL  POSITIONS. 

Magistrate  for  Kent  Co.,  appointed  1770.  See 
Col.  Records  of  Pa.,  Vol  IX.,  p.  645.  Hist. 
Soc.  Pa. 

Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Kent  Co.,  from  Decem- 
ber 1771  to  October,  1774;  2nd  Series  Penna. 
Archives,  Vol.  IX.,  p.  653.    Hist.  Soc.  Pa. 

A  Justice  of  the  Court  of  General  Quarter  Ses- 
sions of  the  Peace,  and  of  the  County  Court  of 
Common  Pleas,  for  Kent  Co.,  in  1774. 
Aitkens  General  Annual  Register  for  1774. 
Hist.  Soc.  of  Maryland. 


110 


MAXOUSSIOXS  OF  SLAVES  BY  THE  MEM- 
BERS OF  DUCK  CREEK  MONTHLY  MEET- 
ING '  AND  SOME  OTHER  FRIENDS. 

EECOEDED  ACCOEDLSG   TO  DIEECTION  OF   IST  DAY  iLEET- 

iNG  22d  day  of  2  MO.  1777. 

I,  Warner  Mifflin  of  the  County  of  Kent  on  Dela- 
ware, Merchant,  do  hereby  manumit  and  set  abso- 
lutely free  my  negro  Man  called  James  (whom  I  set 
at  Liberty  some  time  back  and  gave  an  Instrument  of 
Writing  for  said  Purpose  imder  my  Hand  and  Seal) 
also  my  negro  Woman  called  Mariah  aged  about 
twenty-three  &  her  child  Ann  aged  three  years;  and 
her  child  Lydia  aged  six  years  to  be  absolutely  free 
at  eighteen  years  of  age ;  as  also  my  negro  Girl  called 
Melissa  about  twelve  years  of  age,  also  to  be  abso- 
lutely free  at  eighteen  years  of  age:  so  that  the  said 
negro  Man  James  and  negro  Woman  Mariah  shall  be 
deemed  adjudged  and  taken  as  and  for  free  and  at 
their  own  disposal  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes;  and 
also  her  child  Ann  and  her  child  Lydia  &  the  girl 
Melissa  when  they  arrive  to  eighteen  years  of  age  as 
aforesaid  without  the  Lett  Hindrance  or  Molestation 
of  any  Person  or  Persons  whatsoever.     In  Witness 

* "  First  monthly  meeting  held  at  Duck  Creek,  10  mo.  19. 
1705."     (p.  111.) 

"  In  1852  the  Preparative  Meeting  wag  laid  down,  and  its 
members  joined  Little  Creek."  (p.  112)  Michener's  "Retro- 
spect of  Early  Quakerism." 

Ill 


112  Life  anD  ance$trp  of 

whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  Hand  and  Seal  this 
twenty-second  Day  of  the  tenth  Month  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  One  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  sev- 
enty-four— 1 774. 

Waenek  Mefflin.     (Seal) 

Sealed  6:  delivered  in 

the  presence  of 
Joseph  Jenkins. 
Daniel  Mifflin. 
James  Starr. 

Record  Examined.     Warner  Mifflin. 

Manumission  1st. 

Slaves  manumitted  herein  5. 


DEED  OF  MANUinSSION,  EXECUTED  BY  WARNER  MIFFLIN, 
OF  CHESTNUT  GROVE,   CAMDEN,  DELAWARE.^ 

I,  Warner  Mefflin,  of  Kent  County  on  Delaware, 
Merchant,  fully  persuaded  in  my  Conscience  that  it  is 
a  Sin  of  a  deep  dye  to  make  Slaves  of  my  fellow  Crea- 
tures, or  to  Continue  them  in  Slavery,  and  believing 
it  to  be  impossible  to  Obtain  that  Peace  my  Soul  De- 
sires while  my  Hands  are  found  full  of  injustice,  as 
by  unjustly  detaining  in  Bondage,  those  that  have  as 
just  and  Equitable  Right  to  their  Freedom  and  Lib- 

'  Recorded  Monthly  Meeting  of  Duck  Creek,  Book  for  Manu- 
missions, pap^es  2  and  3.  From  the  original  MS.  in  the  possession 
of  his  Granddaughter,  Elizabeth  (Johns  Neall)  Gay,  of  Staten 
Island,  New  York. 


/c 


Y        y^  ^ -^^ — 

~^Jke^e^^iJU^o-v  ^c^r^')^r'^j  //Ct,,'a^y,e,  J.-'fT/uisi^^  dtui^ie.  a^', 

'fn^'i    liOofi-/    »/»^f»v*y  C^U!k.i^(-V/^«.    rUqie'i    Zt'^'-"4<"  f^boi^f  Jh-i-yft, 
llvi/lLtrr/rz^at^T  ^cr^  //?»tt^^    0ni^^^<«  Uf  c  ^tUlC^  A.  WOlr^^'^-'^  a  bo  tit'. 

y**,  ^  '/^*-  '•^^^^^"^^  ^^^^s?'  /'^^'^  ^£L«»  '^^^  >^-  ^y  ^'^^^ 

;  /l^i/  cifi^  t/to^-t.    //^A-t^  Att)  'Hi^M-  l-notvf^'  i?ltiC  Gt^tS  J'^  C/t^Cd.-  0.0^1^7     I 

>t*'    ^^1-  «'  ^^  -' •  ^^  '-^  ^^/fl^^M^y  /i£^*  t^y  t/ A^^  ^^  ^y^.  a^  /J,  /^f,^Z 
'C<^c.^  ^^  ^fc^^ot ^t^^~f   ^^V^   tAXS^   iy*,,>v^/4   A^*.^^  M'^^/ 


Wiini.T   .Miilliirs   |),.,m1   ,,t    .MiuuiMiissidii.    177.-,. 

[OVKK] 


'    /"'^'-^-'^  A^^.z^ y^^;,^^  ^-.^  i ^'u.**->«>'?/£^^?4^^/C 
^«-<^  /^  ;^>t^  /^^75^  -t..-*^  3i  .%x>*,^  .*>>^  ^tA^  ^y^-*^*"  ^f& 

— :?3^  ^^.;?^'&  ...;.. O.A  ^j^^^  ^-^  ^^f^'  ^'^-^ 
3r_l.^.v9L.  ^-./.../^^/^^^  ^ru^^f^^^^  '171..^^,.^^^  c^^^ 

^9.;  ..jJy.::.^  ...^t/Ti..,  ^,>^/--  ^^j<^^^^^^-yj 

^  '^  --.<^_/;S..  ^>d^^  /!&  /.<»  r./o^./X''^  ^>^/.,y   -/♦^-PA  A->'/^^ 
^■^'^9^^ ^t^t^Lf^,^   3tfyJ>^t^<^i     -c^^/v? '^/«./l^<t»«^/l/5C^^'=^y'-^^-''^•■ 
^iS/ f^-,^^ /L,^  a-*^^^^r.»  f/^  J^^,^ A^<yr,  /!riJ^^'n7j^  ^x^tit.y^^-t 


m^xntt  Q^ifflin*  ii3 

erty  of  their  persons  as  myseK. — Therefore  for  rem- 
edying the  same  I  do  hereby  declare  all  the  jSTegroes 
I  have  hereafter  particularly  JSTamed,  Absolutely 
Free,  them  and  their  Posterity  forever,  from  me  my 
Heirs,  Executors,  Adms.,  and  every  of  them.  To  witt 
Hannah,  an  ancient  ISTegroe  Woman,  EzeMel,  a  Man 
about  Twenty-Five  Years  of  Age,  Beniah,  a  Negroe 
Man  about  Twenty-Seven  Years  of  Age,  Paul,  a 
negToe  man,  about  Twenty  Years  of  age,  Nancy,  a 
Negroe  Woman  about  Thirty  Years  of  age,  and  her 
Girl  Hannah,  about  fourteen  Years  of  Age,  Daniel, 
her  Negroe  boy  about  Ten  years  of  age,  her  Girl 
Jenny,  about  Five  years  of  age,  girl  Nanny,  about 
Three  years  of  age.  Boy  Abram,  about  ten  months 
old ;  Negroe  Grace,  a  woman  about  Twenty-Seven 
years  of  age,  her  Girl  Betty,  about  thirteen  years  of 
Age,  Henny,  her  Girl  about  Eleven  years  of  age,  her 
boy  Richard  about  Seven  Years  and  Nine  months  old. 
Girl  Rebecca,  about  Three  years  old;  hereby  Impow- 
ering  them  and  Each  of  them  with  Full  and  Free 
Liberty  to  commence  suit  in  Law  against  me,  my 
Heirs,  Executors,  Administrators  or  any  of  us  that 
may  attempt  to  enthrawl  imbondage  or  deprive  of 
their  liberty  in  any  respect  by  Colour  or  Pretence  of 
Right  derived  from  me,  and  I  do  hereby  convey  to 
them  and  each  of  them  all  the  Right  Power  and 
Authority  I  have  heretofore  had  to  commence  an 
Action  against  any  person  that  had  heretofore  got 
one  of  them  out  of  my  possession  and  refused  the  De- 
8 


114  Life  anD  ^nttmv  of 

livery  Back  again;  each,  one  to  stand  in  the  place  for 
him  or  herself  that  I  have  had  to  stand  for  them,  in 
behalf  of  my  Own  Interest  in  the  same  case,  when 
they  shall  be  entitled  to  recover  all  such,  costs  as  they 
may  be  at  in  prosecuting  the  Suit  from  such  of  us  as 
may  attempt  as  aforesaid.  And  I  do  hereby  also  lay 
it  as  a  Charge  on  the  Consciences  of  the  Court  or 
Jury  before  whom  it  may  be  brought  that  they 
particularly  adhere  to  this  evidence  in  behalf 
of  the  aff'd.  ISTegroes;  But  believing  it  to  be  my 
Duty  to  take  upon  myself  the  power  and  authority  of 
the  young  ones  to  Raise  and  Educate  them  till  they 
arrive  to  lawful  age,  do  therefore  reserve  that  Pre- 
rogative over  the  Male  till  they  arrive  to  Twenty-one 
Years  of  Age,  and  the  Female  till  they  arrive  to  Eigh- 
teen Years  of  Age,  which  I  do  hereby  direct  to  be 
determined  by  the  Ages  of  Each  as  particularly  men- 
tioned afforesaid,  calling  them  the  very  age  this  day 
that  they  are  said  to  be  about  such  an  age.  And 
whereas  a  Negroe  man  named  Solomon  just  came  to 
me  (upwards  of  forty  years  of  age)  being  left  by  my 
Grand-Mother,  Mary  Mifflin,  to  serve  which  of  her 
Grand-children  he  pleased  and  by  letter  just  received 
from  my  Father,  Daniel  Mifflin,  one  of  the  Executors 
in  her  Will  named  informing  me,  he  the  said  ISTegroe 
Solomon  made  choice  of  me.  I  do  also  therefore 
hereby  declare  said  ISTegroe  Solomon  Absolutely  Free 
from  me  and  my  Heirs  forever  and  do  entitle  him  to 
all  and  every  the  privileges  of  the  others  on  an  At- 


matmt  Q^jfflin,  iis 

tempt  to  deprive  him  as  afforesaid,  and  wliereas  I 
have  heretofore  Manmiiised  and  set  free  my  Xegroe 
man  James,  Xegroe  woman  Meriah,  and  her  children 
Lidia  and  Xany  and  also  Xegroe  girl  Melisa,  which 
Manumission  or  Clearance  I  deposited  in  the  Keeping 
of  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  the  People  called  Quakers 
of  Duckcreek  in  this  Comity  which  I  apprehend  will 
be  admitted  to  record  by  direction  of  said  Meeting 
together  with  this,  Xow  we  desire  is  that  this  being 
Produced  or  a  copy  hereof  Certify'd  by  the  Clerk  for 
the  time  being  to  said  Meeting  or  in  case  there  should 
be  no  Monthly  Meeting  of  and  for  Duckcreek,  Certi- 
fied copy  from  the  Clerk  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
(of  said  People  called  Quakers)  to  which  Duckcreek 
Monthly  Meeting  last  belonged  certifying  that  such 
record  appeared,  shall  be  adjudged,  taken  and  ac- 
cepted as  full  as  I  can  enforce  it,  as  if  I  were  person- 
ally present  and  acknowledged  the  whole  thereof,  and 
such  I  desire  that  may  have  anything  of  the  kind 
before  them  that  they  may  particularly  attend  to  and 
distribute  justice  impartially  to  the  poor  Xegroes 
(and  not  wrest  the  meaning  thereof)  the  consequence 
be  to  them  that  do  otherways,  my  intention  being  to 
clear  them  from  Slavery,  to  me,  my  Heirs,  or  Assigns 
forever, — believing  Freedom  to  be  their  Xatural  and 
just  right.  To  which  I  do  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
afiix  my  Seal  this  Xinth  Day  of  the  First  Month  in 


116  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

the  Year  of  our  Lord,  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
Seventy  <t  Five,  1775. 

(Sgd.)    Wabnee  Mifflin  (Seal) 

Sealed  and  acknowledged 
in  presence  of  us  — 

(Sgd)  Joseph  Jenkins 
"      Edwaed  Cole. 


The  Deed  of  Manumission  made  by  "Warner  Mif- 
flin Merchant  of  Kent  County  on  Delaware  on  ninth 
day  of  first  Month  Seventeen  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  whereby  he  manumitted  sixteen  Slaves  is  re- 
corded in  Book  of  Manumissions  according  to  direc- 
tion of  Duck  Creek  Meeting  on  pages  2  and  3. 

There  is  an  explanatory  note  on  margin  of  page  3 
regarding  negro  Man  Solomon  manumitted  by  said 
Deed  as  follows. — 

The  reason  of  my  Grandmothers  not  freeing  this  negro 
herself  was  that  she  was  informed  she  could  not  do  it  because 
of  the  Laws  of  Virginia  where  she  lived,  it  being  a  concern  to 
her  for  several  years,  but  I  believe  was  somewhat  relieved 
with  the  prospect  she  had  that  it  would  be  accomplished  by 
her  descendants;  she  therefore  mentioned  none  of  them  in  her 
Will  except  two  men,  allowing  them  to  make  choice  of  such 
of  her  Grand-Children  they  pleased;  this  one  choosing  me 
and  the  other  my  brother  Daniel,  were  both  immediately  set 
to  their  Liberty,  and  likewise  a  woman  and  children  before  set 
at  liberty  in  Maryland,  confirmed  by  Will  since  all  are  freed 
by  my  Father,  Daniel  Mifflin. 


Earner  Mifflin*  ii7 

The  3  following  Manumissions  ^  were  executed  by  a 
Friend  living  within  the  confines  of  Virginia,  in 
which  Place  there  being  no  monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends  settled  to  him  contiguous,  his  Manumis- 
sions are  therefore  admitted  to  Record  here  as 
deemed  a  Member  Resident  of  this  Mo.  Meet- 
ing. 

To  all  whom  this  may  come  Know  ye  that  I, 
Daniel  Mifflin  of  Accomack  County  in  the  Colony 
of  Virginia,  Farmer,  being  convinced  of  the 
Iniquity  and  Injustice  of  retaining  my  Fellow 
Creatures  in  Bondage  (it  being  contrary  to  the 
standing  and  perpetual  Command  injoined  by 
our  blessed  Lord  to  his  followers,  to  do  unto 
others  as  we  would  they  should  do  by  us)  and 
also  further  believing  that  after  such  Manifesta- 
tion and  Conviction  made  known,  the  continuing  in 
Violation  thereof  will  incur  his  displeasure,  and  debar 
me  from  the  Enjoyment  of  the  Peace  promised  to  his 
faithful  Followers,  and  therefore  believing  it  to  be 
my  Indispensable  Duty,  in  Obedience  to  his  Requir- 
ing and  Command  as  afsd.,  to  grant  to  them  their 
natural,  just  and  inherent  right  and  Privilege,  the 
Liberty  of  their  Persons  (which  they  are  Intituled  to 
by  Nature)  under  the  Consideration  and  Conviction 
afsd.,  I  do  hereby  manumit  and  set  absolutely  free 

'  Book  of  Manumissions,  p.  34. 


lis  Life  and  ^incestrp  of 

from  a  State  of  Slavery  and  nimatiiral  Bondage  the 
follo\\ang  particularly  named  Negroes,  to  wit:  James 
a  yoimg  man  nineteen  years  of  age,  Charity,  woman 
born  the  22d  Day  7  Mo.  1758  and  her  child  Hannah 
in  the  first  Month  1775,  the  children  of  Negro  woman 
named  Sofiah,  to  wit,  *  Hannah,  a  girl  born  in  the 
2d  Mo.  1763,  Boy  Ben  born  in  the  4th  Mo.  1766,  Girl 
Rhoda  in  the  Spring  (born)  of  1763;  Girl  Betty  bom 

in  Spring  1769;  Boy  Fisher  born Boy 

*Ned  born Girl  Peggy,  born , 

the  children  of  negro  Woman  Phebe,  to  wit.  Boy 
Sam  born  the  twenty-eight  Day  of  11th  Mo.  1769; 
Boy  Jacob  born  in  the  10th  Mo.  1771;  and  the  child 
of  Kachel  negro  woman,  named  ISTanny  born  in  the 
3d  Mo.  1775;  the  children  of  negro  woman  named 
Esther,  to  %\itt.  Girl  Rhoda  born  the  23d  Day  of  7th 
Mo.  1758;  and  Boy  Ben  born  in  the  12th  Mo.  1760; 
the  children  of  negro  woman  named  Patience,  to  witt, 
Tabitha  a  girl  born  the  7th  Day  of  7th  Mo.  1763; 
Girl  Rebecca,  born  the  18th  Day  of  4th  Mo.  1765, 
and  has  14  sons  and  two  daughters.  Boy  Jonathan 
bom  in  the  12th  Mo.  1769;  Boy  Abel  born  the  20th 
Day  of  10th  Mo.  1773;  and  Boy  Stephen  born  the 
first  Day  of  the  first  Month,  1775.  The  children  of 
negTO  woman  named  Jude,  to  witt.  Boy  York  born  in 
the  5th  Mo.  1760;  Girl  Esther  born  in  the  12th  Mo. 
1769;  Boy  Moses  born  the  29th  Day  of  the  eight 
Month,  1772;  Girl  Leah  bom  in  the  10th  Month 
1774;  the  children  of  negro  woman  called  Dnlilin- 


COarnet  Chimin.  ii9 

Leah,  to  witt,  Girl  Betty  born  the  23d  Day  of  the  7th 

Mo.  1765;  Girl  Patience  bom ,  Jude 

bom  in  the  7th  Mo.  1769;  Girl  Candis,  bom  in  the 

7th  month  1771;  and  Girl  Rachel  bora ; 

the  children  of  negro  woman  named  Peggy,  to  witt, 
Barbary,  Girl  born  the  nineteenth  Day  of  the  4th 
Month,  1763;  Girl  Judith  bom  the  8th  Day  of  the 
4th  Mo.  1764;  Boy  Andrew  born  the  21st  Day  of  3d 
Month,  1766;  Girl  Peggy  born  in  the  first  Month, 

1763;  Boy  George  bom Boy  Arthur 

bora  on  or  about  the  27th  of  12  Mo.  1772;  and  Boy 

Jacob   born    ;   the   children   of   Negro, 

woman  called  Polly,  to  witt,  Girl  Dinah  bom  in  ye 
first  Month,  1765.  Boy  Levin  bom  in  ye  7th  Mo. 
1770,  and  Boy  Beniah  bom  ;  the  chil- 
dren of  negro  woman  named  Binah,  to  witt.  Girl 
Kanny  bom  the  10th  Day  of  the  1st  Month,  1756; 
Girl  Comfort  born  the  5th  Day  of  the  8th  Month, 
1762;  Boy  Daniel  born  the  13th  Day  of  4th  Mo. 
1760;  Girl  Scarborough  born  in  the  eight  Month 
1764;  Boy  Robert  born  the  19th  of  the  3d  Month, 

1766;   Girl   Sal  born    ;   Boy  Littleton, 

born and  Boy  Abraham  born  on  or  about 

the  28th  day  of  12th  Mo.  1770;  the  children  of  negro 
woman  named  Leah,  to  witt,  Betty  girl  bom  the  1st 
Mo.  1760;  Boy  Abram  bom  the  16th  Day  of  1st 
Mo.  1763;  Girl  Sabra,  bora  the  1st  Day  of  7th  Mo. 
1765  and  Boy  Sampson  bora  in  the  Spring,  1769 
and  Bov  Isaac  bora    ;   the  ohildren  of 


120  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

woman    named    Sarah,    to    witt,    Bov    Daniel    bom 

the    ;    Girl  Thamar  bom    

So  that  they  shall  from  henceforth  be  deemed  ad- 
judged and  taken  and  as,  and  for  free  people,  that  is 
to  say,  the  male,  to  witt,  Ben,  Fisher,  Xed,  Sam, 
Jacob,  Ben,  Jonathan,  Abel,  Stephen,  York,  Moses, 
Andrew,  George,  Arthur-,  Jacob,  Levin,  Beniah, 
Daniel,  Robert,  Littleton,  Abraham,  Abram,  Samp- 
son, Isaac,  Daniel,  and  James,  when  they  arrive  to 
the  age  of  twentj-one  years;  and  the  female,  to  witt, 
Hannah.  Rhoda,  Betty,  Peggy,  Xanny,  Rhoda,  Char- 
ity, Hannah,  Tabitha,  Rebecca,  Esther,  Leah,  Betty, 
Patience,  Jude,  Candis,  Rachel,  Barbara,  Judith, 
Peggy,  Dinah,  Xanny,  Comfort,  Scarborough,  Sal, 
Betty,  Sabra,  and  Thamar  when  they  arrive  to  the 
age  of  eighteen  years;  then  to  be  at  their  own  Dis- 
posal and  at  Liberty  to  act  for  themselves,  and  shall 
be  deemed  adjudged  and  taken  as,  and  for  free  Men 
and  Women  without  the  Lett  Hindrance  or  Molesta- 
tion of  me  or  any  Person  or  Persons  whatsoever,  and 
to  be  at  full  and  free  Liberty  to  appear  for  them- 
selves and  each  in  their  own  proper  names,  as  free 
Men  and  Women  to  vindicate  their  Liberty  against 
any  Person  or  Persons  that  may  attempt  to  deprive 
them  of  the  same  And  I  do  hereby  also  lay  it  as  a 
charge  on  my  children  that  none  of  them  attempt  by 
Colour  of  Right  authorized  by  any  unjust  law,  usage 
or  Custom  that  may  tolerate  them  in  such  attempt, 
to  deprive  them  of  their  Liberty  as  aforesaid ;  my  In- 


mamer  ^iffiin.  121 

tention  being  hereby  to  set  them  in  the  fiill  enjoy- 
ment of  Freedom  believing  it  to  be  their  just  Right 
assigned  them  by  the  Supreme  Creator  of  all,  in  com- 
mon with  the  rest  of  Mankind:  hereby  also  laying  it 
as  a  charge  on  the  consciences  of  the  Courts  or  Jurys 
before  whom  this  may  be  brought  that  they  particu- 
larly attend  to  this  Evidence  in  Favour  of  the  poor 
Xegroes  equitable  Liberty;  and  also  to  consider  the 
Consequence  when  Day  of  final  Reckoning  overtakes 
them,  if  they  wrongfully  oppress  their  fellow-men. — 
In  Witness  whereof  I  do  hereonto  set  my  Hand  and 
affix  my  Seal  this  eight  Day  of  the  fourth  Month  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thousand,  seven  himdred 
and  seventv-five — 1T75 — 


Dajstel  Mifflix.    (Seal) 


"Witness  present  hereonto; 
Wakxer  Mifflin 
Baptist  Lay 
Walker  Mifflin 


I  do  hereby  certify  that  I 
do  fully  approbate  my  Hus- 
band's executing  the  foregoing 
Manumission  for  the  Freedom 
of  the  Negroes  therein  named. 
Witness  my  Hand: 

Ann  Mifflin. 


122  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

The  foregoing  and  following  Manumissions  were  delivered 
into  my  possession  by  my  Father,  Daniel  Mifflin  in  order  to  re- 
cord which  is  now  done  and  examined  by Warner  Mifflix. 

Manumission  53.  Slaves  Manumitted  54.  But  as  one,  %iz: 
Abram  child  of  Leah,  is  already  recorded  as  Manumitted  by 
D.  Mifflin.  .Jr.  p.  ,31,  this  No.  is  53. 

Those  marked  with  an  Asterisk,  thus  (*),  refer  to  Copy  of 
Indenture  (recorded  Worcester  Coimty,  Marvland ) .  Page  of 
this  Book  39. 


Manumission  54th,' 
Slaves  Manumitted  38. 

To  all  -u'liom  this  may  come  Know  Ye  that  I^ 
Daniel  Mifflin  of  Accomack  Coimty  in  the  Colony  of 
Virginia,  Farmer,  being  fully  convinced  of  the  In- 
iquity and  Injustice  of  detaining  my  fellow  Creatures 
in  Bondage  (it  being  contrary  to  the  standing  and  per- 
petual Command  enjoined  by  our  blessed  Lord  to  his 
followers,  to  do  unto,  others  as  we  would  they  should 
do  unto  us)  and  also  further  believing  that  after  such 
Manifestation  and  Conviction  made  knoAvn,  the  con- 
tinuing in  open  violation  thereof  will  incur  his  Dis- 
pleasure and  prevent  his  Peace  promised  to  his  faith- 
ful Followers  being  handed  fourth  to  me.  Therefore 
believing  it  to  be  my  indispensable  Duty  in  Obedience 
to  his  Requirings  and  Commands  as  aforesaid,  to  grant 
unto  them  their  natural  and  just  and  inherent  Risht 
and  Privilege,  which  they  entituled  unto  by  Xature, 
under  the  Consideration  and  Con^^ction  aforesaid,  I 
do  hereby  declare  all  the  Xegroes  hereafter  particu- 
larly named  absolutely  free,  to  Avitt,  Nanny,  Jude, 

'  Deed  of  Manumissions  Book.  p.  37. 


CCJarner  Mifflin.  123 

Hannah,  Peter  and  Will  antient  Negroes;  Binah, 
Ben,  Jude,  Esther,  James,  George  and  Charity  judged 
at  50  years  and  upwards,  Barbary,  Moll,  upwards  of 
40  years  of  age,  Sarah,  Peggy,  James  (called  Kent) 
Ladock  and  George  (called  Stealphone)  and  Polly 
aged  thirty  years  and  upwards;  Woman  called  Dub- 
lin Leah,  aged  about  twenty-nine  years;  Rachael, 
Woman  aged  about  thirty,  Man  Xed,  Joshua,  and 
Woman  Phebe  upwards  of  twenty-one,  j^imrod,  Man 
imder  thirty  years  of  age;  Jeoram  a  man  aged  near 
thirty-seven  years;  Thamar,  a  woman  aged  near  thir- 
ty-five years;  Leah  woman  aged  upwards  of  thirty-two 
years;  Patience  woman  aged  upwards  of  thirty  years; 
Jude,  woman  aged  thirty  years  about,  *  Sophia  woman 
aged  near  thirty  years;  Man  called  Gilbert  aged 
twenty-eight  years;  Perry,  a  man  aged  upwards  of 
twenty-five  years;  Lydia  woman  aged  about  twenty- 
four  years;  Man  named  John  upwards  of  twenty-one 
years;  Woman  called  Isabella  aged  about  twenty 
years;  woman  named  Sarah  Daughter  of  negro  Esther 
aged  about  nineteen  years;  so  that  henceforth  they 
the  aforesaid  negroes,  every  and  each  of  them  shall  be 
deemed,  adjudged  and  taken  as  and  for  free  Men  and 
Woman  to  all  Interests  and  Purposes  without  the 
Lett  Hindrance  or  Molestation  of  me  my  heirs,  Ex- 
ecutors, or  any  other  Person  or  Persons  whatsoever; 
but  that  they  be  at  their  own  Disposal  and  at  Liberty 
to  act  for  themselves  as  free  Men  and  Woman  and  at 
full  and  free  Liberty  as  free  Men  and  Women  each  in 


124  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

their  own  proper  Xames  to  vindicate  their  natural  and 
just  right,  the  Liberty  of  their  Persons  against  any 
Person  or  Persons  that  may  attempt  to  deprive  them 
of  the  same  in  any  Respect  whatsoever.  And  I  do 
hereby  lay  it  as  a  charge  on  my  Children  that  none  of 
them  attempt  (by  Colour  of  any  unjust  Law,  Usuage 
or  Custom  that  may  tolerate  them  in  such  attempt)  to 
deprive  them  of  their  Liberty  as  aforesaid :  my  Inten- 
tion being  hereby  to  set  them  in  the  Enjoyment  of 
their  Freedom,  believing  it  is  their  Right  assigned 
them  by  the  Supreme  Creator  of  all,  in  common  with 
the  Rest  of  [Mankind ;  hereby  also  laying  it  as  a  charge 
on  the  Consciences  of  the  Courts  or  Jurys  before 
whom  this  may  be  brought,  that  they  particularly  at- 
tend to  this  evidence  in  favour  of  the  poor  Xegroes' 
equitable  Liberty;  and  also  to  consider  the  Conse- 
quence, when  a  Day  of  final  Reckoning  overtakes 
them,  if  they  wrongfully  oppress  their  fellow  Men. 
And  further  I  do  direct  that  the  following  named 
Negroes,  having  spent  the  Prime  of  their  Time  in  my 
service,  and  I  do  hereby  promise  and  engage  for 
them,  that  they  may  be  entituled  to  a  Maintainance 
when  needed  from  my  Estate,  to  witt,  IN^anny,  Binah, 
Ben,  Jude,  (Dublin)  Jude,  Hannah,  Esther,  Peter, 
Will,  George,   James,   Charity,   Moll,   Barbary   and 

Sarah  

In  Witness  whereonto  I  have  set  my  Hand  and 
affixed  my  Seal  this  eight  Day  of  the  fourth  Month 


MJarnet  Q^itflin*  125 

in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  One  thousand,  seven  hundred 
and  seventy-five — 1T75. 

Daniel  Mifflin.     (Seal) 

Witness  present  hereunto: 

Waener  Mifflin. 

Baptist  Lay. 

"Walker  Mifflin. 

I  do  hereby  signify  my  full 
and  entire  approbation  to  my 
Husbands  executing  the  fore- 
going Manumission  for  the 
freeing  the  N"egroes  therein 
particularly  named. 

Witness  my  Hand. 

Ann  Mifflin. 

Record  Examined.  Warner  Mifflin. 


Copy  of  an  Lidenture  '  made  and  executed  by  Daniel  f/^^^^/^  ^^f 
Mifflin  Senior  and  Junior,  for  Freedom  of  Slaves  Mary  Biake 

Born  in  the  4tn 

according  to  an  Act  Of  Assembly  of  Maryland,  mo.  i769  & 

^  ^  "  Hannah  Blake 

Recorded  Court  of  Worcester  and  acknowledged  Bom  4  mo. 

1771. 

before  Nehemiah  Holland. 
This  Indenture  made  this  sixteenth  Day  of  January 
Anno  Domini  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sev- 

NoTE. — Those  marked  in  this  Manumission  thus  *  refer  to 
the  Copy  of  Indenture,  recorded  Worcester  Court  Maryland, 
and  Page  of  this  Book  39. 

^  Deed  of  Manumission  Book,  p.  39. 


126 


Life  anti  3nce$trp  of 


Manumission 
55. 

Slaves  manu- 
mitted 16  but 
9   of   them    be- 
ing included  & 
numbered  in 
the  two  forego- 
ing Manumis- 
sions,  this 
therefore  is 
nimibered  7 
those  marked 
thus  (*)  are  the 
9  alluded  to. 


'Daniel  Mifflin 
Senior  in  pre- 
ceding Manu- 
missions said  to 
be  of  Accomack 
County,  Vir- 
ginia, here  of 
Worcester 
County,  Mary- 
land, is  because 
the  Major  Part 
of  his  Posses- 
sions are  in 
Maryland, 
though  he  resi- 
dent of  Virgin- 
ia.  Said 

Slaves  also 
acquired  and 
resided  in 
Worcester. 


enty  six,  between  '  Daniel  ^littlin,  Senior  &  Daniel 
Mifflin,  Junior  of  ^  Worcester  County  of  the  one 
Part ;  and  Negroes,  Frank  alias  Frank  Allen,  *  James 
called  Lent,  James  &  *  Sophia  his  "Wife  with  their 
children,  to  witt,  *  Hannah,  *  Ben,  *  Ehoda,  *  Betty, 
*  Fisher,  *  Ned  &  *  Pegg-y;  and  Betty  Blake  with 
her  children,  to  witt,  Suscy  Blake,  John  Blake,  Com- 
fort Blake  born  in  ye  12  Mo.  1764,  Mary  Blake  & 
Hannah  Blake,  they  and  every  of  them  being  under 
the  age  of  fifty  years,  of  the  other  Part,  Witnesseth 
that  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  Senior  and  Daniel  Mifflin 
.Junior  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  justice  due 
them  from  us  the  faithful  service  of  the  above  said 
Negroes  and  the  good  behaviour  in  general,  and  being 
desirous  that  the  said  Negroes  should  be  manumitted 
and  forever  set  free  from  Slavery,  reserving  to  our- 
selves the  Guardianship  and  Possession  of  the  Youth 
until  the  male  young  ones  arrive  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  and  the  female  voung  ones  arrive  to  the  age  of 

I/O  o 

eighteen  years,  after  which  we  have  manumitted,  set 
free  and  forever  discharged  &  by  these  presents  do 
manumit,  set  free  and  forever  discharge  the  said 
Negroes  and  their  Issue  from  the  said  Daniel  ]\Iifflin 
Senior  and  Daniel  Mifflin  Junior.  Heirs  and  Assigns 
and  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  Senior  &  Junior  do  cove- 
nant and  agree  to  and  with  the  said  Negroes  and  their 
Heirs,  that  they  are  by  these  presents  forever  manu- 
mitted and  set  free ;  and  that  We  the  said  Daniel  Mif- 
flin Senior  &  Junior,  our  Heirs,  Executors  or  Admin- 


mamti  Qiifflin,  127 

istrators  bath  not  nor  sliall  have  any  Right,  Title,  In- 
terest, Claim,  or  Demand  of,  in  or  unto  the  said 
Negroes  more  than  above  reserved,  or  either  of  them 
or  their  or  either  of  their  Heirs.  In  Testimony 
whereof  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  Senior  &  Jimior  to 
these  presents  their  Hands  have  put  and  Seals  affixed 
the  Day  and  Year  above  written  or  mentioned. 

Daniel  Mifflin,  Senk.     (Seal) 
Daniel  Mifflin,  Junr.     (Seal) 

Sealed  and  delivered 
in  the  presence  of  us: 
Nehemiah  Holland. 
John  Allen. 


Maryland  Worcester  County  ss.^ 

Be  it  Remembered  that  on  the  Day  of  the  year 
within  written  came  Daniel  Mifflin,  Senior  &  Junior 
before  me  the  Subscriber,  his  Lordship's  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  Worcester  Coimty,  and  acknowledged 
the  within  writing  to  be  their  Act  &  Deed,  and  the 
Negroes  therein  mentioned  and  their  issue  to  be  for- 
ever manumitted  and  freed  according  to  the  Act  of 
Assembly  in  such  cases  made  and  provided  &c. 

Acknowledged  before  Nehemiah  Holland. 
Record  Examined.     Warner  Mifflin. 

^  Deed  of  Manumissions,  page  39. 


128  matntt  ^itain* 

I,  Daniel  Mifflin  of  Kent  County  on  Delaware, 
Merchant,  do  hereby  manumit  and  set  absolutely  free 
my  negro  Boy  named  Abram,  bom  the  16th  Day  of 
the  1st  Month,  1763;  so  that  henceforth  he  shall  be 
deemed  adjudged  and  as,  and  for  a  free  Person  as 
fully  as  though  he  was  free  born,  and  to  remain  vnth 
me  as  an  apprentice  till  he  shall  arrive  to  lawful  age, 
viz.  twenty-one  years,  then  to  be  at  his  own  disposal 
and  at  liberty  to  act  for  himself  as  a  free  Man  with- 
out the  Lett  Hindrance  or  Molestation  of  Me  or  any 
Person  or  Persons  claiming  by,  from  or  under  Me 
forever.  In  Witness  whereof  I  do  hereonto  set  my 
Hand  and  affix  my  Seal  this  fourth  Day  of  the  sev- 
enth Month  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  One  thousand, 

seven  hundred  and  seventy-seven — 1777 

Daniel  Mifflin.     (Seal) 

Witness  present  to  the 

acknowledgment  whereof 

Warner  Mifflin. 
Joseph  Jenkins. 

Kecord,  Examined,  Warner  Mifflin. 

Manumission  47th. 
Slave  manumitted  1. 


^Book  of  Manumissions,  page  31. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  CECIL  MONTHLY  MEET- 
ING RELATING  TO  JOSEPH  WARNER. 

7  mo.  1725.  Joseph  Warner  came  before  this 
Meeting  and  requested  a  certificate  to  signify  his 
clearness  from  all  women  here  on  ye  account  of  mar- 
riage &c.  In  order  thereunto  ye  Meeting  appoints 
Geo.  Dunkan  and  Saml.  Smith  to  make  Inspection  as 
aforesaid,  and  also  into  his  conversation  and  as  they 
see  Convenient,  prepare  a  certificate  for  him  to  be 
directed  to  ye  monthly  meeting  of  friends  in  Talbot 
County,  well,  certificate  to  be  offered  to  ye  considera- 
tion of  ye  next  monthly  meeting. 

9  mo.  1725.  The  Reading  &  Signing  of  Joseph 
Warner's  Certificate  is  Deferred  till  next  Monthly 
Meeting. 

10  mo.  1725.  Joseph  Warner's  certificate  was 
Read  and  Signed  at  this  Meeting,  according  to  the 
Reference  of  the  Last  Monthly  Meeting. 

1  mo.  1726.     Joseph  Warner  and  George  Dunkan 

appointed  to  deal  with  James  Kellee,  (on  account  of 

his  taking  undue  Liberties  before  Marriage)  and  to 

bring  his  answer  to  the  next  Monthly  Meeting  and  to 

desire  him  to  be  there  also. 

129 
9 


MAREIAGE  CERTIFICATE  OF  JOSEPH  AXD 
AXN  (CO ALE)  WAR:N^ER. 

Whereas  Joseph  Warner  of  Kent  County  in  the 
Province  of  Maryland  and  Ann  Coale  of  Talbott 
County  and  Province  aforesd.  have  Declared  their 
Intentions  of  Marriage  with  each  other  before  sev- 
eral Monthly  Meetings  of  the  People  called  Quakers 
in  Talbott  Countv  affd.  according  to  the  Good  Order 
used  amongst  them,  whose  Proceedings  therein  after 
Deliberate  Consideration  Thereof  was  approved  by 
the  said  Meetings,  they  appearing  clear  of  all  others. 

Now  these  are  to  Certifie  all  whom  it  May  Con- 
cern that  for  the  full  accomplishment  of  their  sd. 
Marriage  this  sixth  day  of  the  Eleventh  Month,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  Thousand  seven  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  they  the  Sd.  Joseph  Warner  and  Ann 
Coale  appeared  in  a  Pubhck  Meeting  of  the  afore- 
said People  for  the  Worship  of  Almighty  God,  at 
their  Meeting  House  at  Choptank  in  Talbott  Co. 
aforesd.  and  the  Sd.  Joseph  Warner  taking  the  Sd. 
Ann  Coale  by  the  hand,  did  in  Solemn  [Manner  Pub- 
Hckly  Declare  that  he  took  the  Sd.  Ann  Coale  to  be 
his  wife,  Promising  -with  the  Lord's  Assistance  to  be 
unto  her  a  true  and  loving  husband,  untill  it  should 
Please  the  Lord  by  Death  to  Part  them,  and  then  and 
there  in  the  Sd.  assembly  the  Sd.  Ann  Coale  Did  in 
Like  Maimer  Publickly  Declare  that  she  took  the 

130 


m^xnti  ^ifdin. 


131 


Sd.  Joseph  Warner  to  be  her  husband,  Promising 
with  the  Lord's  Assistance  to  be  unto  him  a  loving 
and  faithful  wife,  untill  it  should  Please  the  Lord  by 
Death  to  Separate  them;  and  they  the  Sd.  Joseph 
"Warner  and  Ann  Coale,  She  according  to  the  Custom 
of  Marriage  assuming  the  name  of  her  husband,  as  a 
further  Confirmation  thereof,  Did  then  and  there  to 
these  Prests  Sett  their  hand,  and  wee  whose  names 
are  hereunto  subjoined  being  present  at  the  Sollemn- 
izing  of  the  Sd.  Marriage  and  Subscription  have  as 
witnesses  here  to  these  Presnts  Sett  our  hand,  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 

Joseph  Waejst:r 
Ann  Warner 


Rachel  Harrison 
Rebecca  Dickinson 
Susa  Howell 
Robert  Dickinson,  Jr. 
Sary  Webb,  Jr. 
Mary  Webb 
Magda  Stephens 
Hannah  Dickenson 
Eliza  Troth,  Jr. 
Judith  Dickenson 
Sarah   Webb 
Sarah  Powell 
Peter  Sharp 
Henry  Troth 
Wm.  Edmonson 


Danl.  Powel 
Howel  Powel 
Phillip  Kennard 
Jno.  Dickenson 
Saml.  Dickenson 
Sollomon  Edmonson 
Solom  Birkhead 
John  Garshick 
John  Stephens 
John  Powell 
Wm.  Sharp 
Christo.   Birckhead 
Danl.  Powell,  Jr. 
Walter  Dickenson 
Benj.  Laurance 


MARRIAGE  CERTIFICATE  OF  DAXIEL  AND 
MARY  (WARXER)  MIFFLIN/ 

Whereas  Daniel  Mifflin  of  Aeconiack  County  in 
the  Colony  of  Virginia  and  Mary  Warner  of  Kent 
Co.  aforesaid,  having  Intention  of  taking  each  other 
in  Marriage  Declared  their  said  Intentions  before 
Severall  Monthly  Meetings  of  the  People  Called 
Quakers  in  Kent  County  aforesaid,  Whose  proceed- 
ings therein,  after  Deliberate  Consideration  and  Con- 
sent of  parents  and  parties  thereby  Concerned,  were 
approved  of  by  the  said  meetings:  and  for  the  full 
accomplishment  of  Said  Marriage  the  said  Daniel 
Mifflin  and  Mary  Warner,  on  the  15th  Day  of  the 
Ninth  Month  in  the  year  1744  appeared  in  a  publick 
assembly  of  the  said  people  and  others  in  Cecil  Meet- 
ing House,  Kent  Co.  aforesaid,  where  after  some 
time  of  solitidy  and  waiting  upon  the  Lord  the  said 
Daniel  Mifflin  standing  up,  and  haveing  the  said 
Mary  Warner  by  the  hand,  Did  openly  Declare  as 
follows:  Friends,  in  the  presence  of  God  you  are  my 
witnesses  that  I  take  this  my  friend  Mary  Warner 
to  be  my  ^\ife,  promising  through  God's  assistance  to 
be  unto  her  a  Loving  and  Faithful  Husband,  imtill  it 
shall  please  the  Lord  to  separate  us,  (or  in  words  to 
the  same  purpose)  and  then  and  there  in  like  manner 
she,  the  said  Mary  Warner  Did  also  openly  Declare: 
friends,  in  the  presence  of  God  you  are  my  witnesses 

'  From  ^linutes  of  Cecil  Monthly  Meeting. 
132 


COatnet  Q^ifflin, 


133 


that  I  take  this  my  friend  Daniel  Mifflin  to  be  my 
husband,  promising  through  God's  assistance  to  be 
unto  him  a  Loving  and  Faithful  Wife,  until  it  shall 
please  the  Lord  by  Death  to  separate  us,  (or  in  words 
to  the  same  purpose)  and  the  Said  Daniel  Mifflin 
and  Mary  Warner  (she  according  to  the  Custom  of 
Marriage  assuming  the  name  of  her  husband)  as  a 
farther  confirmation  thereof  Did  then  and  there  here- 
unto sett  their  hands,  and  we  whose  names  are  here- 
unto subscribed  being  present  amongst  others  at  the 
solemnizing  their  said  ^Marriage  and  subscription 
aforesaid,  as  Witnesses  have  hereunto  subscribed  our 
names  the  Day  and  Year  above  written 

Daniel  Mifflin 


Thos.  Bowers 
Dowd.  Thompson 
Hannah  Bodien 
Hannah  Bartlett 
Mary  Hosier 
Margaret  Basin 
Andrew  Peirce 
Jabez  Jenkins 
John  Crew 
Henry  Trulock 
Tlios.'  Wilks 
Michl  Corse 
Mary  Corse 
Isaac  Corse 
Mattarris 
Nancy  Dickinson 
Rebecca  Thomas 
James  Wilson 
Mary  Jones 
Griffith  Jones 
Howel  Bnckinham 
Sarah  Kennard,  Sr. 
Phebe  Needham 


Mary  Warner 

George  Duncan 
David  Hull 
Henry  Bodien 
George  Wilson 
Jacob  Johns 
Benj.  Richardson 
Morgan  Brown,  Jr. 
Joshua  Lamb 
Ann  Richardson 
Thos.  Richardson 
Samuel  Mifflin 
Geo.  Rasin 
Joseph  Warner 
Mary  Rasin 
Wm.  Rasin 
Daniel  Nock 
Joseph  Maxfield 
Wm.  Dickenson 
Sarah  Wilson 
Elizabeth  Stevens 
Sarah  Powell 
Abraham  Rasin 


MARRIAGE  CERTIFICATE  OF  DAKEEL  AKD 
A:N"N  (WALKER)  MIFFLIX.^ 

Whereas  Daniel  ^Mifflin  of  Accomack  County  in 
the  Colony  of  Virginia,  Farmer,  and  Ann  Walker  of 
the  same  place  having  declared  their  Intentions  of 
Marriage  with  each  other  before  several  Monthly 
Meetings  of  the  People  called  Quakers  in  Kent 
County  in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  according 
to  the  good  order  used  among  them,  whose  proceed- 
ings therein  after  a  deliberate  consideration  thereof 
and  having  Consents  of  Parents  and  Parties  con- 
cerned nothing  appearing  to  obstruct  were  approved 
of  by  the  said  Meetings.  Xow  these  are  to  certify 
whom  it  may  concern  that  for  the  full  accomplishing 
their  said  Intention  this  Seventeenth  Day  of  the 
Tenth  Month  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord,  One  Thou- 
sand, seven  hundred  and  fifty-seven  they  the  said 
Daniel  Mifilin  and  Ann  Walker  appeared  in  a  Public 
Meeting  of  the  said  People  and  others  at  Little 
Creek  Meeting  House  in  the  aforesaid  County,  and 
the  said  Daniel  taking  the  said  Ann  by  the  hand  Did 
in  a  Solemn  Manner  Openly  Declare  that  he  took  her 
to  be  his  Wife  Promising  through  Divine  Assistance 
to  be  unto  her  a  faitliful  and  loving  husband  until 
the  Lord  is  pleased  by  Death  to  separate  them  or 
words  of  like  importance  and  then  and  there  in  the 
'  From  Minutes  of  Duck  Creek  Meeting,  page  109. 
134 


Wamtt  ^min. 


135 


said  Assembly  the  said  Ann  Did  in  like  manner 
Declare  that  she  took  the  said  Daniel  to  be  her  Hus- 
band, Promising  through  the  Lord's  assistance  to  be 
unto  him  a  faithful  and  loving  "Wife  until  the  Lord 
is  pleased  by  Death  to  separate  them,  and  moreover 
the  said  Daniel  and  Ann,  she  according  to  the  Cus- 
tom of  Marriage  assuming  the  surname  of  her  Hus- 
band, as  a  further  confirmation  thereof  Did  then  and 
there  to  these  Presents  sett  their  hands  and  we  whose 
names  are  hereunder  subscribed  being  among  others 
present  at  the  solemnization  of  their  said  Marriage 
and  subscription. 

In  manner  aforesaid  as  Witnesses  thereunto  here 
also  to  these  Presents  set  our  hands  the  Day  and 
Year  above  written. 

Daniel  Mifflin, 
Ann  Mifflin. 


Ezekiel  Cowgill 
Timothy  Hanson 
Samuel  Spavold 
Benjamin  Bavist 
Isaac  Howell 
Jonathan  Ozburn 
Samuel  Hanson 
Hezekiah  Rowle 
Solomon  Truett 
Finwick  Fisher 
Daniel  Wilson 
Thos.  Lightfoot,  Jr 


Sarah  Xock 
Ruth  Wilson 
Hannah  Jenkins 
Elizabeth  Daniel 
Grace  Fisher 
Sarah  Clayton 
Mary  Ha  mm  on 
Eunice  Ozburn 
Jane  Farson 
Sarah  Nock,  Jr. 


Warner  MiflBin 
Ezekiel  Nock 
Patience  Wilson 
Thos.  Wilson 
Ralph  Brock 
Zecah  Ferris 
William  Farson 


MARRIAGE  CERTIFICATE  OF  DAXIEL 
XEALL  AND  SARAH  MIFFLIX. 

Whereas  Daxiel  Xeall  of  the  to%^Ti  of  Milford 
in  the  County  of  Kent  and  State  of  Delaware,  Son  of 
Jonathan  Xeall,  late  of  Kent  County  in  the  State 
aforesaid  and  Sarah  his  wife,  deceased,  and  Sarah 
MitSin,  daughter  of  Warner  Mifflin,  late  of  the 
County  and  State  aforesaid,  and  EKzabeth  his  Avife, 
deceased,  having  declared  their  intentions  of  mar- 
riage with  each  other  before  a  Monthly  Meeting  of 
the  Religious  Society  of  Friends  held  at  Xurdcrkill, 
according  to  the  order  used  among  them  their  said 
proposal  of  marriage  was  allowed  of  by  the  said  Meet- 
ing. Xow  these  are  to  certify  whom  it  may  con- 
cern that  for  the  full  accomplishment  of  their  said  in- 
tentions tliis  Twenty-first  day  of  the  Third  month 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  ten  they  the  said  Daniel  Xe^ll  and  Sarah 
Mifflin  appeared  in  a  public  meeting  of  the  said  peo- 
ple, held  at  Xurderkill  aforesaid  and  the  said  Daniel 
Xeall  taking  the  said  Sarah  Mifflin  by  the  hand 
did  on  this  solemn  occasion  declare  that  he  took  her 
the  said  Sarah  Mifflin  to  be  his  wife  promising  with 
divine  assistance  to  be  unto  her  a  loving  and  faithful 
Husband  until  death  should  separate  them,  and  then 
in  the  same  assembly  the  said  Sarah  Mifflin  did  in 
like    manner   declare    that    she    took    liim    the   said 

136 


COatnet  Mifflin. 


137 


Daniel  Xeall  to  be  her  Husband  promising-  with 
divine  assistance  to  be  unto  him  a  loving  and  faithful 
wife  until  death  should  separate  them.  And  more- 
over they  the  said  Daniel  Xeall  and  Sarah  Mifflin 
(she  according  to  the  custom  of  marriage  assuming 
the  name  of  her  Husband)  did  as  a  further  confirma- 
tion thereof  then  and  there  to  these  presents,  set  their 
hands. 

A^^)  WE  whose  names  are  also  hereunto  subscribed 
beine  present  at  the  solemnization  of  the  said  mar- 
riage and  subscription,  have  as  witnesses  thereunto 
set  our  hands  the  day  and  year  above  ^vritten. 

(Sgd.)     Daneel  Xeall 
"         Saeah  M.  Xeall 


Sarah  Dolby 
Lydia  Luff 
Ann  Brady 
Susanah  E^imondson 
Elizabeth  Hardcastle 
Ezek.  Hunn 
SiErnature  indistinct 
Philip  Hardcastle 
Michael  Lowles 
James  Hand 
Timy.  Hanson 
Thomas  Xock 
Sarah  Clayton 
Nathaniel  Coombe 
Signature  indistinct 
Rachel   Sharpies 
Jonathan  Jenkins 
Joseph  G.  Howland 


John  Dolby 
William  Dolby 
Thomas  Xewlin 
Thomas  Jenkins 
Batchelder  Chance 
Ed'.vard  Needles 
Isaiah  Rowland 
Ruth  Rowland 
Eliza  Newlin 
John  George 
Thomas  Berry 
(?)   Wainwright 
Rachael  Atkinson 
Susan  Dolby 
Elizabeth  Needles 
Lvdia  Barratt 
Eliza  Barratt 
Jonathan  Neall 


Mary  H.  Mifflin 
Clayton  Cowgill 
John  Cowgili,  Jr. 
Eliza  M.  Rasin 
"Lemuel  Mifflin 
Ann  H.  Mifflin 
Ann  Mifflin 
Saml.  Mifflin 
Danl.  Mifflin,  Jr. 
Jona.  W.  Mifflin 
Warner  Mifflin 
Sorah  Ann  Mifflin 
Debby  Mifflin 
Ann  George 
Elizabeth  Howell 
Patience  Hunn 
Jona.  Hunn 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  MINUTES  OF  DUCK 

CREEK,  LITTLE  CREEK  AND  MUR- 

THERKILL  MEETIXGS. 

FROM    iNnNUTES    OF    DUCK    CEEEK    MEETING. 

26th.  3  Mo.  1768.  MiirtLerkill  Preparative  Meeting  brought  a  com- 
Co^iLned  °  plaint  here  against  Warner  Mifflin  for  accomplish- 
against.  ]j^„  }jig  marriage  bv  the  assistance  of  a  Priest  with  one 

(p.  206)  j^  . 

of  the  same  profession,  Wherefore  Thomas  Hanson 
and  Thomas  Willson  are  appointed  to  visit  him  on  the 
occasion,  and  report  their  sense  of  the  disposition 
they  find  him  in  to  our  next. 

27th.  3  Mo.  1768.  Waruer  Mifflin  appeared  here  and  offered  a  paper 
tffereT^^^*  condeuming  his  outgoing  in  Marriage  which  is  left 
(p.  210)  with  friends  for  further  consideration.    Elizabeth  the 

Wife  of  the  above  Warner  Mifflin  also  appeared  and 
offered  a  paper  condemning  her  outgoing  in  Marriage 
which  is  Hkewise  left  under  the  consideration  of 
friends. 

24th.  6  Mo.  1769.       Wamcr  ^lifflin  and  Wife  appeared  here  and  their 

Ackncwledgment  .  .  ^ 

accepted.  casc  being  re\'ived  and  considered  and  their  acknowl- 

edgments read,  are  accepted  as  satisfaction  as  long  as 
their  future  conduct  shall  correspond  with  the  Rules 
of  our  Discipline.  Jonathan  Xeal  is  appointed  to  pub- 
lish them  at  the  close  of  a  first  dav's  Meeting  at  Mur- 
therkill  they  being  present,  and  return  them  to  our 
next. 

138 


(p.   216) 


caatnet  Q^ifflin.  i39 

FROM   MIXUTES  OF  MI:ETI>-G  AT  LITTLE  CREEK  ^   27tH  OF 

5th  mo.  1775.     (p.  258.) 
Murtherkill  Preparative  Meeting  proposes  Warner  ^^^^'^^^° 
Mifflin  and  John  Bowers  as  Elders  for  that  Meeting.  Eider. 
Jacob  Jannev  and    John  Cowgill  are  therefore  ap- 
pointed to  take  an  opportunity  and  treat  with  them 
and  report  their  sense  of  their  ability  and  qualifica- 
tions for  that  weighty  service  to  our  next  Meeting. 

FEOM  MEOJTES  OF  MEETrN'G  AT  DUCK  CREEK  24tH  OF  6 

MO.  1775.     (p.  260.) 
The  friends  appointed  to  visit  those  proposed  for  wamer  MMin 

^^  IV  proposed  Elder 

Elders  by  Murtherkill  Meeting  report  that  they  have  concurred  with, 
done  accordingly  and  give  it  as  their  sense  that  they 
(to  witt)  Warner  Mifflin  and  John  Bowers  may  be 
admitted  to  the  station  proposed  with  which  this 
Meeting  agrees  and  directs  that  a  copy  of  this  Minute 
be  sent  to  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  to  be  held  at  London  Grove  in  Chester 
County  for  their  Concurrence  therein  and  they  to 
attend  the  same. 

FROM  MI>'rTE5  OF  MEETIXG  HELD  AT  DUCK  CREEK  THE 

22xD  OF  6th  moxth,  1776.    (p.  269.) 
The  former  Clerk  of  this  Meeting  (to  witt)  Ein- 
wick  Fisher  having  expressed  at  this  time  as  well  as 

^  The  first  monthly  meeting  was  held  at  Little  Creek,  3  mo. 
17,  1714,  at  Richard  Richardson's.  The  last  monthly  meeting 
was  held  6  mo.  13,  1864. 


140 


Life  anD  ancesttp  ot 


Warner  MifiUn 

appointed 

Clerk, 

22d  6  Mo.  1776. 


heretofore  advised  of  being  released  from  that  ser- 
vice which  this  Meeting  taking  under  consideration 
(he  having  served  in  that  Station  a  considerable 
time).  It  appearing  to  be  the  sense  of  said  Meeting 
that  a  change  in  this  respect  may  be  an  Improvement 
to  Individuals  as  well  as  advantage  to  the  fleeting  in 
General  agrees  thereto  and  nominates  and  appoints 
Warner  Mifflin  in  his  stead  as  Clerk  till  further 
order,  and  also  appoints  John  Dickinson  as  an  assist- 
ant to  said  Clerk. 


Warner  Mifflin 
appointed 
to  record 
Deeds  of 
Manumission 
22nd  3  Mo.  1771 


FROM   MINUTES   OF   MEETING  THE   2 2 NT)   OF   3    MO.    1777. 

(p.  278.—) 

Warner  Mifflin  the  present  Clerk  of  this  Meeting  is 
appointed  to  record  the  Manumissions  that  has  been 
or  may  be  executed  for  the  freedom  of  negroes  or 
others  that  have  been  held  in  a  state  of  slavery  to  be 
recorded  in  a  Book  for  that  purpose  provided  and  to 
report  when  ready. 


Report  ot 

Committee 

Warner  Mifflin 

et  al. 

Case  of  Slaves. 

26th  of  4  Mo. 

1777. 


FROM    MINUTES    OF    MONTHLY    MEETING    HELD    AT    DUCK 
CREEK  THE  26tH  OF  THE  4tII  MONTH,  1777.     (P.  278.) 

The  Committee  appointed  in  the  case  of  slaves  now 
report  in  writing  as  follows,  (to  witt) 

We  the  Committee  continued  in  the  case  of  slaves 
have  to  report  that  we  have  not  yet  united  in 
a  general  visit  to  them  that  hold  them  of  late, 
yet    may   inform    that   we   have   been    attentive   to 


Earner  Q^ifflin*  i4i 

some  cases  that  have  come  before  us,  and  now 
report  that  Jonathan  Plunn  with  the  consent  and 
approbation  of  his  Wife,  Alexander  McKay, 
"with  the  consent  of  his  Wife,  whose  names  and 
circumstances  of  their  cases  were  heretofore 
returned  to  this  Meeting  and  entered  on  Minutes 
thereof  all  of  whom  have  executed  Manumissions  for 
the  discharging  the  whole  of  their  Xegroes  from  a 
State  of  Slavery,  and  Like\nse  that  the  freedom  of 
eleven  more  have  been  secured  since  last  Meeting 
and  we  have  hope  of  continued  openness  that  are  yet 
behind  in  that  respect. 

FROM  MINUTES  OF  DUCK  CKEEK  MEETING  HELD  AT  LITTLE 

CEEEK  19th  of  the  9th  mo.  17'78.    (p.  294.) 

We   the    Committee   appointed   by   Duck   Creek  Report  of 
Monthly   Meeting   to   labour   for   the  Spiritual  and  ^;;:^3f^ffl, 
Temporal  good  of  such  Xegroes  as  have  been  released  et  ai. 
from  a  state  of  slavery  within  the  ver^re  of  said  Meet-  visit  Free 
ing  now  report  that  after  our  appointment  we  all  met  ^'^^"^^ 
together   with    the    following  named  friends  of  the 
Quarters  Committee  in  same  case  (viz.)  Warner  Mif- 
flin, William  Jackson,  Junr.,  William  Wilson,  Isaac 
Jackson,  Rebeckah    Chambers.    Esther   Hoops,  Ann 
Holiday,  Philenia  Lay,  and  Mary  Seston  and  several 
opportunities    being    had,  something    so    distressing 
attended  the  minds  of  friends  that  it  was  apparent 
that  obstructions  lav  in  our  wav  of  Droceedinsr  in  the 


142  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

senice,  and  caused  a  narrow  search  in  the  minds  of 
Friends  for  the  cause  and  after  Meeting  several  times 
in  solid  conference  on  the  weight  and  importance  of 
the  subject,  a  general  freedom  appeared  in  the  Com- 
mittee to  express  -wherein  thej  apprehended  thej 
might  in  their  conduct  afford  cause  for  the  distress 
now  felt  and  as  most  of  this  Committee  who  were 
Members  of  this  Meeting  had  more  or  less  been  con- 
cerned in  the  Oppression  of  this  People,  some  having 
many  years  back  sold  negroes  that  were  yet  living 
and  in  a  state  of  slavery;  some  having  released  of 
them  at  an  advanced  age  and  made  no  Restitution; 
some  by  the  conduct  of  Predecessors,  holding  Estates 
which  appeared  to  have  been  in  part  gathered 
through  oppression ;  and  the  great  neglect  of  this  Peo- 
ple Christian  and  School  Education  Reviving  with 
concern  Friends  minds  were  impressed  with  a  sense 
that  Justice  had  not  enough  been  attended  to;  but  as 
this  freedom  rose  in  the  minds  of  the  Committee  to 
express  themselves  on  those  several  Heads  and  their 
willingness  yet  to  do  Justice  to  this  much  Injured 
People,  what  in  their  power,  way  appeared  to  open 
vtdth  a  degree  of  clearness  to  proceed  to  have  Meet- 
ings with  them;  and  accordingly  we  appointed  Meet- 
ings for  such  as  were  contiguous  at  the  Meeting 
Houses  of  Duck  Creek,  Little  Creek,  Murtherkill, 
Three  Tuns  and  Cool  Spring  and  agreeable  thereto 
had  a  meeting  with  (as  was  supposed)  about  forty  of 
them  at  Duck  Creek  on  the  third  dav  of  the  28th  of 


Wntntx  Mifflin*  us 

the  fourth  Month  last,  the  daj^  following  at  Little 
Creek  with  near  seventy  of  them,  the  next  dav  at 
Murtherkill  where  there  were  supposed  to  be  an  hun- 
dred; next  day  at  Three  Tuns  with  near  forty;  the 
day  following  at  Cool  Spring  with  upwards  of  twenty, 
after  which  John  Cowgill,  Ezekiel  Cowgill  and  Eliza- 
beth Bo-^man  accompanied  five  of  the  Quarterly 
Meetings  Committee  down  to  the  family  of  our 
Friend  Daniel  MifBin  in  Virginia  and  appointed  a 
Meeting  at  his  House  for  such  as  he  had  released 
from  a  state  of  slavery  and  at  the  time  appointed 
about  fifty  assembled,  the  day  following  being  the 
day  the  said  family  holds  a  Meeting  for  "Worship. 
The  Blacks  residing  on  this  Friends  mansion  Planta- 
tion were  generally  collected;  after  proceeded  to 
visit  them  at  their  several  places  of  abode;  which  took 
us  the  time  till  seventh  day  after  noon  when  they 
concluded  to  stay  Meeting  with  the  Family  on  first 
day,  and  the  said  negroes  being  generally  acquainted 
thereof  attended  with  some  others  that  were  in  a 
state  of  slavery  to  amount  of  near  One  Hundred, 
together  with  a  number  of  our  said  Friends,  Xeigh- 
bors  who  were  slave  holders  where  the  nature  of  this 
errand  (they  believed  was  opened  to  advantage)  and 
on  their  return  homeward  had  an  opportunity  by  the 
Roadside  with  two  Xegro  men,  set  at  Liberty  by  the 
aforesaid  Friends  who  resided  some  considerable  dis- 
tance from  him:  During  which  time  of  sitting  with 
the  two  last  mentioned  Xegroes  came  up  and  sat  with 


144  Life  anD  3nce$trp  of 

them  the  Negro  Master  who  expressed  his  satisfac- 
tion \nth  their  proceedings  and  acknowledged  to  the 
truth?  of  which  he  heard  delivered.  Since  which  time 
a  part  of  each  Committee  have  miited  and  had  an 
opportunity  with  the  few  within  the  verge  of  Georges 
Creek  Meeting. 

And  throughout  it  was  satisfactory  to  observe 
them  so  cheerfully  disposed  to  attend  and  appearing 
glad  of  Friends  company  and  there  were  among  them 
who  ai:>peared  Solid  in  their  countenances  and  to  be 
exercised  in  spirit  and  we  may  say  in  a  degree  of 
Reverent  thankfullness  that  we  felt  the  extendings 
of  Divine  regard  towards  this  People  and  ability  was 
afforded  us  in  a  measure  to  open  to  them  the  way  of 
life  and  Salvation  and  to  explain  to  them  the  Funda- 
mentals of  the  Christian  faith  and  also  to  warn  and 
caution  them  against  pursuing  a  course  of  Vice  and 
Immorality  since  which  time  our  Friends,  ^Yilliam 
Jackson,  Rebeckah  Chambers  from  drawings  in  a 
degree  of  Gospel  Love  have  been  concerned  to  visit 
those  People  \nthin  the  verge  of  this  Meeting  in  their 
respective  families,  in  which  service  some  of  our 
nmuber  accompanied  them  (being  those  mostly  of 
Duck  Creek,  Little  Creek  and  Murtherkill)  of  which 
service  we  may  have  in  the  future  more  fully  to 
report. 

Signed  on  behalf  of  the  Committee. 

By   EZEKIEL  COWGILL. 


caarner  a^ifflin,  i45 

FROM   ill>TTES   OF   MEETING   AT   DUCK  CREEK   22    OF    IST 
MO.  17S0.     (p.  312.) 

Warner  Mifflin  informs  that  he  hath  some  draw-  ^^^^^^"'' 
ines  in  his  mind  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meetings  of  to  visit 

,     ^,  -.r         1  1        -\r      ^-  Philada.  & 

Philadelphia  and  Chester  some  Monthly  Meetings  Chester, 
which  may  fall  in  his  way  as  also  to  sit  with  the  Com- 
mittees for  Reformation  of  some  of  said  Meetings; 
with  whose  concern  this  meeting  concurring  the  clerk 
is  directed  to  furnish  him  with  a  transcript  of  this 
minute  in  order  thereto. 

FKOM  MINUTES  OF  MEETINXr  AT  LITTLE  CREEK  28tH  DAT 

OF  10  MO.  1780.    (p.  324.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  lavs  before  this  Meeting  wamer  Mifflin 

...     J  to  attend 

a   concern   he   hath   felt   to  accompany  his  mmd  to  Quarterly 
attend  the  next  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Bucks  as  also  ^^''"^  ^"'^'^ 
in  prospect  the  Monthly  Meetings  which  may  fall  in 
his  way  and  the  clerk  directed  to  furnish  him  with  a 
copy  hereof. 

FROM  MINUTES  OF  DUCK  CREEK,  27tH  OF  IST  MO. 

1781.    (p.  328.) 

The  case  of  Free  Xegroes  being  now  considered  J^""^^'' 
and  this  Mts.  as  before  thinkins:  a  fresh  nomination  et  ai. 

Committee 

therein  may  be  fruitfid  of  advantage  to  the  concern,  appointed  in 
dissolves  the  former  Committee,  and  now  appoints  ^^J^ 
John  and  Ezekiel  Cowgill,  Israel  and  John  Allston, 
Warner  and  Daniel  Mifflin,  Jabez  Jenkins  (Son  of 
10 


146 


Life  anD  ^mtmv  oi 


Warner  Mifi3in 
to  visit 
Long  &  Rhode 
Islands. 


Timothy)  and  Daniel  Heaverlon,  to  take  the  same 
under  their  solid  attention  and  care  and  proceed 
therein  as  best  wisdom  may  direct. 

FEOM   MINUTES   OF   MEETING  AT   LITTLE   CHEEK   24tH  OF 

3rd  mo.  1781.    (p.  332.) 

Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  having  expressed  at  our 
last  some  Drawings  in  his  Mind  to  attend  the  ensuing 
Yearly  IVIeetings  of  Long  and  Rhode  Islands  and 
some  Meetings  of  Discipline  within  their  verges 
as  also  of  the  Jersies  and  other  Services  as 
his  way  might  open  thereto,  in  company  with 
some  friends  in  his  Prospect  having  like  con- 
cern, and  he  being  now  absent  at  the  G-en- 
eral  Spring  Meeting  in  Philadelphia,  revives  the 
same  to  this  Meeting  by  a  few  lines  left  with  a  friend 
for  that  purpose  informing  us  of  the  continuation 
thereof.  Wherefore  this  Meeting  on  deliberate  Con- 
sideration thereof  concurs  with  him  in  his  said  con- 
cern and  directs  the  clerk  to  furnish  him  with  a  copy 
of  this  Minute  previous  to  his  procedure  thereunto. 


Warner  Mifflin 
returns 
from  visit 
Eastward. 


FEOM  MINUTES  OF  MEETING  AT  DUCK  CREEK  25tH  DAY 

OF  YE  5th  mo.  1781.    (p.  343.) 

Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  having  now  returned  to 
us  from  his  religious  visit  to  friends  eastward  returns 
the  Certificate  given  him  on  that  occasion  with  two 
Indorsements  thereon,   viz.    One   from   the   Yearly 


Meeting  at  Westbury  for  Long  Island  dated  the  1st 

Day  of  the  Sixth  Month,  1781. And  one  from  the 

Quarterly  Meeting  held  at  Falmouth  from  ye  30th 
of  the  6  Mo.  till  1st  of  7th  Mo.  1781.    As  also  four 

more  separate  Certificates,  viz.  

One  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Smithfield  for  New 
England  dated  13th  of  6th  Mo.  1781.  One  from  the 
Monthly  Meeting  at  Xantucket  by  Adjournment — 
ye  26th  of  6th  Mo.  1781.  One  from  a  Monthly  Meet- 
ing held  at  Dartmouth  in  N.  England  ye  27th  of  6 
Mo.  1781.  One  from  a  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Green- 
wich for  Ehode  Island  ye  12th  &  13th  of  7  Mo.  1781. 
Each  and  every  of  the  above  Meetings  except  that  of 
Long  Island  are  within  the  verge  of  Smithfield 
Yearly  Meeting  for  the  Providence  of  ISTew  England. 
Which  Certificates  all  set  forth  that  his  Labours  of 
Love  in  the  Discipline  of  the  Church  were  satisfac- 
tory and  acceptable,  which  affords  Comfort  to  us. 

FROM  inXUTES  OF  MEETING  AT  DUCK  CREEK  23rD  OF 

3  MO.  1782.    (p.  357.) 
Our   esteemed    Warner   Mifflin    laid    before    this  wamer  Miflain-s 

concern 

Meeting  a  concern  which  he  hath  some  time  felt  to  to  visit 
accompany  his  mind  to  visit  Friends  at  their  ensuing 
Yearly  Meeting  in  Virginia  as  also  to  attend  some 
other  Meetings  &  Services  as  way  may  open  there- 
about: which  being  considered,  we  have  good  Unity 
with  him  therein,  he  being  an  Elder  in  near  esteem 


Virginia. 


148 


Life  anD  ancestrp  of 


Warner  Miffin 
returns 
from  visit  to 
Virgrinia. 


amongst  ns.  The  clerk  is  therefore  directed  to  fur- 
nish him  with  a  transcript  of  this  Minute  previous 
to  his  proceeding  thereto. 

FROM  MIXUTES  OF  MEETING  AT  LITTLE  CREEK  27tH  DAY 

OF  YE  7th  mo.  1782.  (p.  360.) 
Our  friend  "Warner  Mifflin  having  fulfilled  his 
Prospect  in  his  visit  to  Virginia  agreeable  to  a  Min- 
ute of  this  Meeting  given  him  on  that  occasion  where- 
in he  expresses  he  found  Peace  and  Satisfaction  in  his 
own  mind,  now  returns  said  Minute  with  an  Indorse- 
ment thereon  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  at  Black- 
water  dated  as  there  held  from  ye  18th  to  21st  of  the 
5th  Mo.  last  which  signifies  their  unity  and  good  ac- 
ceptance of  his  Company  and  Service  which  is  satis- 
factorv  to  us. 


FROM   minutes  OF  MEETING  AT  LITTLE  CREEK  22d  OF  7 

MO.  1786.    (p.  414.) 
Elizabeth  ^  papcT  Containing  some  of  the  expressions  of  our 

Mifflin  Wife  of  V,     ^.        ,    -r^,.      ,       ,     ,r.^.        i      ,i     i       •  i 

Warner  estccmcd  fricud  Elizabeth  Mifflm  dec  d  during  her 

Paper  read         |       illncss  was  read  in  this  Meetinn-  tendinu:  we  trust 

containing  ~ 

some  of  her  last  to  the  reviving  of  the  pure  mind  in  us  and  an  Incite- 
ment to  a  more  diligent  and  faithful  discharge  of  our 
several  duties  the  further  consideration  of  which  is 
left  Avith  Ezekiel  Cowgill,  Eobert  Holliday  and 
Joseph  Jenkins  who  are  to  report  of  their  sense 
whether  its  contents  be  sent  to  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing as  our  Memorial  of  her. 


garnet  Q^ifflin*      i49 

FROM  MINUTES  OF  MEETING  AT  DUCK  CREEK  28Tn  OF  4tH 

MO.  1787.     (p.  425.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  expressing  to  this  Meet-  '^^;;^^^'*'' 
ing  that  he  hath  felt  drawings  in  his  mind  to  attend  to  visit 
the  ensiling  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  Virginia  ^^^"*- 
if  way  open  which  this  ^Meeting  ha^^ng  Unity  with 
leaves  him  at  liberty  to  attend  thereto  he  being  an 
Elder  in  Good  esteem  among  us  and  directs  the  Clerk 
to  furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  this  Minute. 

FROM    illNUTES    MEETING    AT    DUCK    CREEK    25tH    OF    8 

MO.  1787.     (p.  431.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  expressing  to  this  Meet-  '^^^^^'''^'''' 
ing  as  well  as  heretofore  that  he  hath  felt  drawings  in  to  visit 

^  ,  .  -r-r        1       -\r      x-  ^    North  Carolina. 

his  mind  to  attend  the  ensmng  Yearly  Meeting  ot 
Friends  in  Xorth  Carolina  and  some  other  Meetings 
for  Discipline  as  way  may  open  to  and  from  thence: 
there  appearing  a  near  s}Tnpathy  in  the  minds  of 
Friends  and  concurrence  with  him  in  his  concern; 
Wherefore  Ezekiel  Cowgill,  Joseph  Jenkins  and 
Samuel  Howell  are  appointed  to  prepare  a  Certificate 
for  him  and  produce  it  at  our  next. 

FROM   MINUTES  MEETING  AT   LITTLE   CREEK  22d   OF   QxH 

MO.  1787.     (p.  432.) 
A    certificate    is    now    produced    for    our    friend  ^'^J^^^f^^ 
Warner  Mifflin  as  directed  which  being  read  is  ap-  to  visit 

111        i.j.1,'      North  Carolina. 

proved  and  signed  by  Isaiah  Rowland  clerk  at  tnis 
time  and  divers  other  friends. 


150  Life  anU  ancesttp  of 

FROM  MINUTES   MEETING  AT  LITTLE   CREEK   22   OF   12tH 

MO.  1787.     (p.  435.) 
Warner  Mifiin         QuT  friend  Wamer  Mifflin  now  returns  our  Cer- 

retums  from  .  „  .  ... 

North  Carolina,  tmcate  beret oiore  given  him  on  his  concern  to  visit 
friends  of  the  Yeariy  Meeting  held  at  Center  for 
Xorth  Carolina  (fee.  with  an  indorsement  from  that 
Meeting  expressing  that  his  Company  and  Labours 
of  Love  in  the  several  sittings  thereof  were  truly  ac- 
ceptable. Also  produced  a  minute  from  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Cane  Creek  belonging  to  the  afore- 
said Yearly  Meeting  certifying  their  Unity  and  con- 
currence with  his  service  therein  which  is  satisfactory 
to  this  Meeting. 

FROM  MINUTES  DUCK  CREEK  MEETING  22d  OF  12  MO. 

1787.    (p.  436.) 
Warner  Mifflin's       Qur  fricud  Wamcr  Miffliu    uow   lays  before  this 
to  visit  Yearly    Meeting  a  rcligious  Draught  which  hath  for  some 
^^f*°f  time  with    weisrht    attended    his  mind  to    visit    our 

in  London.  o 

Brethren  at  their  ensuing  Yearly  Meeting  in  Lon- 
don which  being  solidly  deliberated  on  is  left  for 
more  mature  Consideration  till  our  next. 

FROM    MINUTES    DUCK    CREEK    26tH    OF    IST    MO.    1788. 

(p.  437.) 

do.  do.  The  concern  of  our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  being 

revived  and  wcightly  considered  by  this  Meeting  it 
appears  to  be  the  prevailing  sense  of  friends  that  the 


maxmt  ^imin.  i5i 

subject  be  yet  left  for  further  deliberation  till  our 
next. 

FEOM     MTSUTES   OF   LITTLE   CEEEK  23d  OF  THE   2d.    MO. 

1788.    (p.  438.) 
The  concern  of  our  friend  "Warner  Mifflin  coming  w^mer  Mifflin's 

'—     concern 

again  under  our  consideration  it  appears  most  easy  to  visit  Yearly 
to  the  minds  of  friends  that  it  be  yet  continued  for  i^  London, 
further  consideration   recommending   a   serious   and 
weighty  attention  to  the  pointing  of  truth  in  his  mind 
in  the  ripening  up  or  the  further  procedure  of  his 
concern. 

FROM   illXrTES   OF   DUCK   CREEK  MEETING   26tH  DAY   OF 

4th  mo.  1788.     (p.  441.) 

The  concern  of  our  friend  "Warner  Mifflin  again  do.  do. 
claiming  the  attention  of  this  Meeting  it  is  agreed  to 
name  John  Cowgill,  Robert  Holliday,  Ezekiel  Cow- 
gill,  William  Corbit,  Israel  Corbit,  John  Bowers  and 
Baptis  Lay  to  weightly  consider  and  feel  with  the 
friend  in  his  concern  in  the  ability  which  may  be 
afforded  and  report  their  sense  and  prospect  thereof 
to  our  next. 

FROM  MIXL'TES  OF  LITTLE  CREEK  MEETING,  24tH  OF  5tH 

MO.  1788.    (p.  443.) 
Four  of  the  friends  appointed  in  the  concern  of  our  wamer  Mifain'i 
friend  Warner  Mifflin  report  they  have  had  a  solid  visit  London, 
opportunity  ^\-ith  him  in  which  they  feel  imity  in  his 


152 


Life  anD  ancesttp  of 


prospect  and  concern,  after  weighty  deliberation 
thereon,  this  meeting  concurs  wdth  their  report  but 
as  there  appears  some  matters  necessary  to  be  done 
previous  to  his  further  procedure  the  same  friends 
are  continued  to  give  the  needful  assistance  therein 
and  when  accomplished  are  desired  to  report  to  this 
meeting. 


Warner  Mifliin's 
concern  to 
visit  London. 


FROM  MINUTES  OF  LITTLE  CREEK,   26tH  OF  7  MO.    1788. 

(p.  445.) 

The  friends  appointed  in  Warner  Mifilin's  case 
report  that  six  of  them  have  had  an  opportunity  with 
him  since  our  last  but  are  not  yet  prepared  to  make  a 
final  report  or  produce  a  Certificate,  they  are  there- 
fore continued  to  pay  the  further  needful  attention 
thereto  and  desired  to  report  when  ready. 


Anne  Mifflin 

(Wife  of 

Warner) 

Certificate 

from 

Philadelphia, 


FROM   MONTHLY   MEETING   OF   WOMEN  FRIENDS   HELD   AT 

mitrtherkill  10th  of  1st  MO.  1789.    (p.  3.) 

Anne  Mifflin  Wife  of  Warner  Mifflin  produced  a 
Certificate  from  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  in  Philadelphia  the  28th  of  the  11th  Month, 
1788,  recommending  her  to  our  care  which  was  read 
and  received. 


W^xnti  Qpiftlin.  153 

FROM  RECOKDS  MURTHEKKILN  MONTHLY  MEETING  OtH  OF 

4  MO.  1793/    (p.  84.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  now  expressed  that  his  ^vamer  Mifflin's 

J        .  ,      concern  to 

mind  hath  been  for  some  time  past  impressed  with  visit  Indiana, 
a  religious  concern  to  visit  the  Indian  natives,  at  the 
treaty  which  is  expected  will  be  held  by  the  United 
States  with  that  People.  And  this  concern  increasing 
with  such  weight  that  he  believed  it  most  consistent 
with  his  peace  of  mind  to  spread  it  in  this  manner  for 
our  solid  consideration;  and  if  upon  weighing  the 
matter  we  can  unite  with  his  prospect  so  far  as  to 
concur  therex^'ith  it  will  be  strengthening  to  him. 
Upon  mature  dehberation  Friends  generally  ex- 
pressed their  approbation  and  unity  with  his  concern 
and  John  Bowers  Isaiah  Rowland  and  Jona  Hann 
are  appointed  to  prepare  a  certificate  for  him  and 
produce  it  to  our  adjourned  Meeting  which  is  now 
agreed  shall  meet  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  for  Wor- 
ship on  First  Day  next. 

FIRST  DAY  next,  4  MO.  14th,  1793.    (p.  85.) 
An  essay  of  a  Certificate  was  now  produced  for  ^vamer  Mifflin 

CcrtificJitc  for 

Warner  !Mifilin  as  directed  which  being  read  and  con-  above  suted 
sidered   is    approved   and   agreed   to   be    signed   by  p"""!**^- 

'  Motherkill  Meeting  was  set  off  from  Duck  Creek  in  178S. 
In  1828  the  meeting  for  worship  was  discontinued.  In  1830 
the  Monthly  Meeting  was  joined  to  that  of  Duck  Creek,  and 
the  name  changed  to  Camden  Monthly  Meeting. — From  Mich- 
ener's  "Retrospect  of  Early  Quakerism,"  pp.  113-115. 


154 


Life  anD  ancestrp  of 


Friends  generally,  who  are  present  and  handed  to 
the  Friend  to  proceed  with  in  his  freedom  as  truth 
may  open  the  way  according  to  good  order. 


Daniel 
Mifflin,  Jr. 
Minutes 
to  attend 
Yearly  Meetings 
New  York  & 
Rhode  Island. 


FROM  EECORD.S  M0>THLY  MEETING,  MrRTHERKILN  13tH 
OF  5  MO.  1794.   (p.  100.) 

Our  friend  Daniel  Mifflin  the  younger  opened  in 
this  Meeting  a  prospect  which  had  for  some  time 
rested  with  him  to  accompany  our  esteemed  friend 
John  Simpson  of  Pennsylvania  on  a  religious  visit  to 
iNTew  York  and  Ehode  Island  Yearly  Meetings  and 
as  far  as  the  concern  of  said  friend  may  extend  which 
being  weightly  considered  was  united  with  and  he 
encouraged  therein,  this  Meeting  desiring  his  preser- 
vation under  the  weight  of  the  concern,  the  clerk  is 
directed  to  furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  this  minute 
for  that  purpose. 


Daniel 
Mifflin  Jr. 
returns  from 
above  visit. 


FROM   RECORDS  OF  MONTHLY'  MEETIN'G  AT  MURTHEEKILIf 

15  OF  7  MO.  1794.    (p.  103.) 

Our  friend  Daniel  Mifflin  the  younger  has  now 
returned  the  Minutes  given  him  in  the  5th  Month 
last,  with  two  Indorsements,  viz:  One  from  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Rhode  Island,  the  other  from  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Xew  York,  both  expressing  that 
his  company  was  truly  ac<?eptable,  and  he  also  in- 
formed the  Meeting  that  he  had  gone  through  the 
visit  as  Companion  to  John  Simpson,  as  far  as  said 


CSatnet  d^iffiin.  155 

friend  saw  his  way  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
own  mind. 

MONTHLY  MEETING  AT  MUKTHERKILL,  IOtH  DAY  OF  5  MO. 

1796.    (p.  133.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  mentioned  to  this  Meet-  '•'^^^^'  ^'"^'^ 

concern  to 

ing  a  concern  which  had  for  some  time  accompanied  visit  Yearly 
his  mind  to  attend  the  approaching  Yearly  Meeting  >jg^  y^rk. 
to  be  held  at  New  York  which  being  considered  the 
Meeting  unites  in  leaving  him  at  liberty  to  proceed  as 
way  may  open  he  being  an  Elder  in  good  Esteem. 
The  Clerk  is  directed  to  furnish  him  a  copy  of  this 
Minute. 

FEOM   MUmXES  MONTHLY  MEETING  AT  MURTHERKTLL  11 

OF  7th,  1797.     (p.  153.) 
Our  friend  Warner  Mifflin  informed  this  Meeting  pr^t^tand''^ 
of  a  prospect  which  he  had  of  attending  the  next  Minute  to 

^        ^  .  ^  attend 

Quarterly  Meeting  at  Phila.,  Abington,  Chester  and  Quarterly 
other  Western  Quarters  which  being  considered  he  is  p^j^"^  ^* 
left  at  liberty  to  proceed  as  way  may  open,  being  an  Abington  and 

.  1  c  •   1      other  Western 

Elder  in  Good  Esteem  the  Clerk  is  directed  to  furnish  Quarters. 
him  with  a  copy  of  this  Minute. 

FROM  RECORDS  OF  MONTHLY  MEETING  AT  MURTHEEKILL 

12th,  2  MO.  1799.     (p.  182.) 

The  consideration  of  placing  Daniel  Mifflin  in  the  Daniei  Mifflin 
Station  of  an  Elder  as  proposed  at  our  last,  and  a  ^^^^^^^^^ 
unity  with  the  proposition  being  expressed  he  is  ac- 


156  mamtt  9^imin* 

cordingly  placed  in  that  Station,  and  the  Clk.  is  di- 
rected to  furnish  him  with  a  copy  of  this  Minute  and 
sign  it  on  behalf  of  this  Meeting  in  order  for  his  at- 
tendance at  the  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders, 


EXTRACTS  FROM  CERTIFICATE  BOOK, 
MURTHERiaLL  MEETING. 

To  Friends  of  Baltimore  Monthly  Meeting,     (p.  17.)  certificate  to 

•^  o        M  /  jjjj^  Mifflin  to 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  our  Monthly  Meeting  behalf  of  her 

of  Mnrthcrkill  held  the  13th  of  the  6th  Mo.  1797.  saliue?  .md'^"' 

T  XT  /^i      1  Susanna 

Jonathan  Mann,  Clerk.  Husband. 


Patience  Hann,  Clerk. 


(minors) 


To  Friends  Baltimore  Monthly  Meeting.        (p.  18.)  certificate  to 

Mary  Mifflin 

Signed  in   and   on    behalf   Murtherkill   Monthly  (Minister) 
Meeting  the  11th  of  7th  Mo.  1797. 

Jonathan  Hann,  Clerk. 

Patience  Hann,  Clerk. 

To  Monthly  Meeting  at  Philada.  (p.  27.)  certificate  to 

Moving    to     reside    for    some   time   in   Philada. 
Given  15  Day  of  7  Mo.  1800. 

Israel  Gorse,      ^-    , 
-^        ^^  Clerks. 

Eyre  Mifflin, 

To  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Philada.  (p.  39.)  certificate  to 

Recommend  Samuel  Emlen  and  Lemuel,  minor  ^^■""''^  ^"^^"^ 

-,-,-.-  .    •  .  ^  Lemuel 

chiW  of  Warner  Mifflin  deceased,  who  some  time  minor  children 
since  removed  ^vitll  their  Mother  to  reside  within  "^^^ 


your  limits. 

Signed  &c.  12  Day  of  2  Mo.  1807. 

Thos.  Berry,  Clerk. 

157 


Mifflin  dec'd. 


COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  TO  VISIT  HOWE 
AND  WASHINGTON.^ 

James  Thornton  on  behalf  of  the  Com^«  on  the 
Epistles  &c  report  that  a  weighty  consideration  hath 
been  before  them  respecting  some  friends  going  bv 
appointment  of  this  Meeting  on  a  visit  to  William 
Howe  General  of  the  British  Army  and  to  George 
Washington  General  of  the  American  Army  and  to 
take  with  them  the  Testimony  yesterday  approved 
by  this  Meeting,  in  which  visits  or  opportunities  they 
are  to  endeavor  to  lay  before  said  Generals  or  any  of 
their  Officers,  or  other  People  the  Reason  of  publish- 
ing that  testimony — And  also  further  remonstrate  on 
the  behalf  of  our  banished  Friends,  or  proceed  in 
other  respects  on  behalf  of  Truth  and  our  religious 
Society  as  best  Wisdom  may  dictate,  and  make  way 
for  them. 

The  subject  being  now  weightily  attended  to  & 
the  sentiments  of  many  friends  expressed  in  appro- 
bation of  such  a  concern  &  visit  the  meeting  nom- 
inates for  this  purpose  William  Bro\vn,  James  Thorn- 
ton, Nicholas  Wain,  Warner  Mifflin,  Joshua  Morris 
&  Samuel  Emlen  who  are  to  make  report  to  the  meet- 
ing for  Sufferings  when  they  have  performed  the  ser- 
vice. 

'Eecords  Yearly  Mooting  of  Friends  for  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  29th  of  9th  month  to  4th  day  of  10th  month  1777 
p.  382. 

158 


Garnet  Q^ifflin.  io9 

Nicholas  Wain  on  behalf  of  the  Comamittee  in- 
formed the  Meeting  they  considered  the  proposal  of 
adding  a  further  paragraph  to  the  Epistle,  but  seemed 
most  easy  to  omit  it.  This  Meeting  directs  that  4000 
copies  of  said  Epistle  or  Testimony  should  be  printed 
as  soon  as  may  be  and  in  such  manner  as  may  be 
likely  to  best  answer  the  end  intended  by  it  and  200 
more  to  be  printed  in  the  German  Language. 


A  testimony  given  forth  from  our  Yearly  Meeting 
held  at  Philada.  for  Pennsylvania  &  Xew  Jersey 
by  adjournments  from  the  29  of  the  9th  Mo  to 
the  -ith  of  the  10th  Mo  1777: 
A  number  of  our  Friends  having  been  imprisoned 
and  banished  unheard    from   their   families  under  a 
charge  and  Insinuation  that  "  they  have  in  their  Gen- 
eral Conduct  and  conversation  evidenced  a  disposition 
inimical  to  the  cause  of  America,"  and  from  some 
publications  intimating  "  that  there  is  a  strong  rea- 
son to  apprehend  that  these  persons  maintain  a  cor- 
respondence highly  prejudicial  to  the  Public  Safety," 
may  induce  a  belief,  that  we  have  in  our  Conduct  de- 
parted from  the  Peacable  Principles  which  we  pro- 
fess, and  apprehending,  that  the  Minds  of  some  may 
thereby  be  misled,  for  the  clearing  of  Truth,  we  think 
it  necessary,  publickly  to  declare,  that  we  are  led  out. 
of  all  wars  &  fightings  by  the  Principle  of  Grace  and 
Truth,  in  our  o^\^l  Minds,  by  which  we  are  restrained 


160  Mft  anD  ^nctmv  of 

either  as  private  ^Icmbcrs  of  Society,  or  in  any  of  our 
Meetings,  from  holding  a  correspondence  with  either 
Army,  but  are  concerned  to  spread  the  Testimony  of 
Truth,  <fe  the  peacable  Doctrines  of  Christ,  to  seek 
the  Good  of  all — to  keep  a  consience  void  of  offence 
towards  God  and  Man — to  promote  the  Kingdom  of 
the  Messiah  which  we  pray  may  come,  and  be  experi- 
enced in  Individuals,  in  Kingdoms  &  Nations  that 
they  may  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares  &  their 
spears  into  Pruning  Hooks,  &  nation  not  lift  up 
sword  against  Xation,  neither  learn  war  any  more. — 
Isaiah  2 — 4.  And  we  deny  in  General  Terms  all 
charges  &  Insinuations  which  in  any  degree  clash 
with  this  our  Profession. 

As  to  a  nameless  paper  lately  published  said  to  be 
dated  at  Spank  Town  Yearly  Meeting  and  found 
among  the  baggage  on  Staten  Island,  every  Person 
who  is  acquainted  with  our  stile  may  be  convinced  it 
was  never  wrote  at  any  of  our  Meetings  or  by  any  of 
our  Friends.  Besides  there  is  no  ^[eeting  throughout 
our  whole  Society  of  that  Xamc  nor  was  that  letter 
or  any  one  like  it,  ever  wrote  in  any  of  our  Meetings 
since  we  were  a  People.  We  therefore  solemny  deny 
the  said  Letter  &  wish  that  those  who  have  assumed 
a  ficticious  character  to  write  under  whether  with  a 
view  to  injure  us,  or  cover  themselves,  might  find  it 
their  place  to  clear  us  of  this  charge  by  stating  the 
Truth." 

As  from  the  knowledge  we  have  of  our  banished 


marnet  Mifflin.  lei 

Friends  and  the  best  Information  we  have  been  able 
to  obtain,  we  are  convinced  they  have  done  nothing 
to  forfeit  their  just  right  to  Liberty,  we  fervently  de- 
Bire  that  all  those  who  had  any  Hand  in  sending  them 
into  banishment  might  weightily  consider  the  Tend- 
ency of  their  own  Conduct  and  how  contrary  it  is  to 
the  Doctrines  &  Example  of  our  Lord  &  Law  Giver 
Jesus  Christ, — and  do  them  that  Justice  which  their 
case  requires  by  restoring  them  to  their  aflflicted  fam- 
ilies &  friends.  And  this  we  arc  well  assured  will 
conduce  more  to  their  Peace  than  keeping  them  in 
exile — We  give  forth  this  admonition  in  the  fear  of 
God,  not  only  with  a  view  to  the  Eelief  of  our 
Friends  but  also  to  the  real  Interest  of  those  con- 
cerned in  their  Banishment. 

Having  been  favored  to  meet  to  transact  the  af- 
fairs of  our  Eeligious  Society,  which  relate  to  the 
Promotion  of  the  cause  of  Truth  &  Eighteousness  we 
have  felt  a  renewed  concern  for  the  Good  &  Happi- 
ness of  Mankind  in  General,  and  in  the  Love  of  the 
Gospel  have  issued  forth  this  Testimony  for  the  clear- 
ing ourselves  &  our  friends  &  the  warning  of  those 
who  have  from  groundless  suspicions  and  mistaken 
notions  concerning  us,  may  be  persuaded  seek  our 
Hurt,  to  the  wounding  their  o^vn  souls  &  the  Loss 
of  the  Community. 

Signed  by  Order  &  on  behalf  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing. 

Isaac  Jackson,  Clerk. 
11 


I 


REPORT  OF  co:m]^iittee  appoixted  to 

VISIT  HOWE   AXD  WASHIXGTOX.^ 

The  Committee  appointed  last  year  to  visit  the 
Generals  of  the  two  contending  armies  made  the  fol- 
lowing Report  of  their  proceeding  in  and  performing 
that  service,  which  was  read  to  our  satisfaction : 

We  the  Com^^  apptd  by  the  last  Yearly  Meeting 
to  visit  the  Generals  of  the  two  contending  Armies 
on  the  second  day  of  the  week  following  our 
said  Mtg  proceeded  to  General  Howes  Head  Quar- 
ters near  Germantown,  and  had  a  seasonable  op- 
portunity of  a  conference  ^^^th  him  and  delivered 
him  one  of  the  Testimonies  issued  by  the  Yearly 
Meeting  and  then  proceeded  on  our  way  to 
General  Washington's  camp,  at  which  we  arrived 
the  next  day  A;\'ithout  meeting  ^vith  any  interruption 
and  being  conducted  to  Head  Quarters,  where  the 
principal  officers  were  assembled  in  Council,  after 
waiting  some  time  we  were  admitted  and  had  a  very 
free  opportunity  of  clearing  the  Society  from  some 
aspersions  which  had  been  invidiously  raised  against 
them  and  distributed  a  number  of  the  testimonies 
amongst  f*io  officers,  who  received  6c  read  them  & 
made  no  objections.  We  were  much  favored  &  mer- 
cifully helped  with  the  seasoning  Virtue  of  Truth  & 

'  From  Record  of  Yearly  Meeting  for  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey,  26th  of  9th  Mo.,  1778,  p.  414. 

162 


matnti  Q^ifflin,  i63 

the  presence  of  the  Master  was  very  sensibly  felt  who 
made  way  for  us  beyond  expectation,  it  being  a  criti- 
cal &  dangerous  season.  We  may  further  add  that 
we  were  kindly  entertained  by  Gen'l  Washington 
&  his  officers  but  lest  on  our  return  we  should  be  ex- 
amined as  to  our  intelligence  we  were  desired  to  go  to 
Pottsgrove  for  a  few  days  within  which  time  such 
alterations  might  take  place  as  to  render  our  return 
less  exceptionable  to  them,  where  we  accordingly 
sent  under  the  guard  or  care  of  a  single  officer  & 
hospitably  entertained  by  Thomas  Rutter  a  very  kind 
man  &  other  of  our  Friends;  in  this  town  we  had 
some  good  service  for  truth.  Two  of  the  Committee 
were  discharged  on  6th  day  after  noon,  &  the  other 
four  on  seventh  day,  having  been  detained  between 
three  &  four  days.  Two  of  the  friends  upon  coming 
M'ithin  the  English  Lines  then  near  Vanderin's  Mill 
were  stopped  and  questioned  respecting  intelligence 
about  the  Americans,  which  they  declining  to  give, 
they  were  sent  under  a  Guard  to  the  Hessian  Colonel 
who  commanded  at  that  post,  &  he  proposed  several 
questions  respecting  the  American  Army,  which  the 
Friends  declining  to  answer  he  grew  very  angry 
rough  &  uncivil,  using  some  harsh  reflecting  lan- 
guage, &  ordered  a  Guard  to  conduct  them  to  the 
Hessian  General  Kniphauscn,  who  appeared  more 
friendly,  but  he  not  understanding  the  English  Lan- 
guage sent  them  under  the  conduct  of  a  light  horse- 
man or  Trooper  to  General  Howes  Headquarters  at 


164  mntmt  Q^iftlin* 

Gennantown,  but  upon  the  two  Friends  informing 
one  of  bis  aid  du  Camps  who  they  were  they  were  dis- 
missed mthout  being  further  interrogated  so  that  no 
kind  of  intelligence  w^as  obtained  from  them,  nor 
any  departure  from  the  Language  of  the  testimony 
they  had  delivered;  we  believe  the  Lords  Hand  was 
in  it  in  guarding  us  from  improper  compliances  & 
bringing  us  through  this  weighty  service  though  it 
was  a  time  of  close  humbling  baptism. 

As  to  the  charge  respecting  the  Intelligence  said 
to  have  been  given  from  Spank  To^vn  Yearly 
Meeting  we  believe  Genl  Washington  &  all  the 
officers  then  present,  being  a  pretty  many,  were 
fully  satisfied  as  to  friends  clearness  &  we  hope 
&  believe  thro'  the  Lords  Blessing  the  opportun- 
ity we  had  was  useful  many  ways  there  having 
been  great  openness  &  many  observations  upon 
various  subjects  to  edification  &  tending  to  re- 
move &  clear  up  some  prejudices  wliich  had  been 
imbibed. 

Saml  Emlen  Jr.  Wm.  Brow^n 

Joshua  Morris  James  Thornton 

Warner  Mifflin  Nicholas  Wain 

Phila  1st  10th  Mo  1778 


EEPOKT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  REFOR- 
MATION/ 

At  Monthly  Meeting  24  day  1st  Month  1778,  Com- 
mittee appointed  to  labour  for  Reformation  report  in 
writing  as  follows. 

We   the    Committee    appointed   by  this   Meeting 
(together  with  Warner  Mifflin  of  the  Yearly  Meeting 
Committee)  to  labour  to  carry  forward  a  Reforma- 
tion, now  report  that  after  the  said  appointment  we  all 
met,  and  taking  into  consideration  the  weight  and 
importance  of  the  service,  and  also  apprehending  that 
time  called  for  Diligence  herein,  we  foimd  a  concern 
to  visit  each  other  at  our  respective  places  of  abode 
in  order  to  strengthen  another   herein   and   remove 
such  things  amongst  ourselves  as  might  obstruct  our 
way  and  be  likely  to  retard  our  service,  wherein  we 
found  satisfaction,  and  an  open  willingness  prevailed 
amongst  us  to  put  away  such  things  as  we  believed 
Truth's  testimony  was  against,  and  in  thus  proceed- 
ing we  were  favored  with  unexpected  openings  re- 
spectmg  our  service,  and  also  finding  our  minds  en- 
gaged  to   spread   the    concern    of   the  body  in  this 
Respect,  as  generally  as  might  be  conveniently  done; 
we  have  for  that  purpose  attended  all  the  meetings 
within  the  verge  of  this  Monthly  Meeting,  and  visited 

'  From  Record  Duck  Creek  Monthly  Meeting,  p.  287. 
1G5 


166  fattier  ^iftlin^ 

the  Family  of  our  friend  Daniel  Mifflin  in  Virginia, 
to  a  good  degree  of  satisfaction  to  ourselves,  and  we 
believe  some  others,  and  we  have  likewise  a  comforta- 
ble hope  that  there  is  a  remnant  in  most  meetings 
concerned  to  unite  in  this  great  and  necessary  work; 
but  on  the  other  hand  it  appears  lamentable  that 
many  remain  lukewarm  and  indifferent  even  in  the 
time  they  profess  to  meet  in  order  for  worship,  as  to 
a  proper  concern  to  perform  this  great  &  necessary 
duty,  from  which  deficiency  we  believe  in  gTeat  meas- 
ure has  proceeded  the  slackness  of  discipline  and  the 
want  of  its  being  exercised  in  the  wisdom  &  author- 
ity of  Truth,  whereby  many  remain  unconcerned 
about  this  necessary  and  incumbent  Duty,  of  meeting 
together  for  that  pui'pose  w^ho  ought  to  have  stirred 
up  to  more  diligence  therein  or  a  testimony  gone 
forth  against  such  disorderly  members  which  appears 
to  deserve  attention;  we  hope  to  stand  open  to  a  fur- 
ther labor  as  we  may  feel  our  minds  draAvn  being 
encouraged  from  a  belief  that  the  Master  of  our 
Assembly  owns  the  work 

Warner  Mifilin  John  Bowers  Susanna  Cox 

William  Willson  Israel  Allston  Elisabeth  Cowgill 

Isaiah  Rowland  Jane  Smith,  Junior 

Alice  Fisher 

Which  being  read  &  approved  the  Committee 
directs  the  same  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes  and 
this  Committee  continued  for  their  service  therein. 


ADDRESS    TO    COXGEESS    ON    SLAVERY, 
SIGNED    BY    535    FRIENDS/ 

The  following  friends  are  appointed  to  wait  on  the 
Congress  with  the  address  of  this  Meeting  now  sign- 
ing, viz:  Warner  Mifflin,  Geo.  Dillwyn,  James  Pem- 
berton,  Anthony  Benezet,  David  Evans,  David 
Cooper,  Robert  Kirkbride,  Jno.  Parrish,  John  Hos- 
kins,  Joseph  West,  Benj.  Clark,  Daniel  Bvrnes,  Geo. 
Bowne,  Eli  Yarnall,  Jacob  Linley,  who  are  desired 
to  make  Report  to  the  Mtg.  for  Sufferrings  of  their 
performance  of  this  service — which  Meeting  is  de- 
sired carefully  to  attend  to  what  may  appear  to  them 
further  necessary  to  promote  the  work  in  view: 

To  THE  United  States  in  Congress  Assembled. 
{The  address  of  the  People  called  Quakers.) 
Being  through  the  favor  of  divine  Providence  met 
as  usual  at  this  season  in  our  Annual  Assembly  we 
find  with  great  satisfaction  our  well  meant  endeav- 
ours for  the  Relief  of  an  oppressed  Part  of  our  fellow 
men  have  been  so  far  blessed  that  those  of  them  who 
have  been  held  in  Bondage  by  Members  of  our  re- 
ligious society  are  generally  restored  to  Freedom, 
their  natural  and  just  Right. 

'  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  Friends  at  Philadelphia  for  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey  and  western  parts  of  Maryland  and  Vir- 
ginia, from  29th  of  9th  Mo.  to  4th  day  of  10th  Mo.,  1783.  (p. 
65.) 

167 


168  Life  anD  ^ncesttp  of 

Commiserating  the  afflicted  state  into  which  the 
Inhabitants  of  Africa  are  very  deeply  involved  by 
many  professors  of  the  mild  &  benign  doctrines  of 
the  Gospel,  and  affected  with  a  sincere  concern  for 
the  essential  good  of  our  Country,  we  conceive  it  our 
indispensable  duty  to  revive  in  your  view  the  lament- 
able grievance  of  that  oppressed  people,  as  an  inter- 
esting subject  evidently  claiming  the  serious  attention 
of  those  who  are  entrusted  with  the  powers  of  Gov- 
ernment as  Guardians  of  the  Common  Eights  of 
Mankind  &  Advocates  for  Liberty. 

We  have  long  beheld  with  sorrow  the  complicated 
Evils  produced  by  an  unrighteous  commerce  which, 
subjects  many  thousands  of  the  human  species  to  the 
deplorable  state  of  Slavery. 

The  Kestoration  of  Peace  and  Restraint  to  the 
Effusion  of  human  Blood  we  are  persuaded  excite  in 
the  minds  of  many  of  all  Christian  Denominations 
Gratitude  &  Thankfulness  to  the  all  wise  Controller 
of  human  events;  but  we  have  grounds  to  fear,  that 
some  forgetful  of  the  days  of  distress  are  prompted 
by  avaricious  Motives  to  renew  the  Trade  for  Slaves 
to  the  African  Coasts,  contrary  to  every  humane  & 
righteous  consideration  6z  in  opposition  to  the  solemn 
Declarations  often  repeated,  in  favor  of  universal 
Liberty;  thereby  increasing  the  too  general  Torrent 
of  Corruption  and  Licentiousness  &  laying  a  Founda- 
tion for  future  calamities. 

We  therefore  earnestly  solicit  your  Christian  In- 


matmt  ^itain*  i69 

terposition  to  discourage  &  prevent  so  obvious  an 
Evil  in  such  manner  as  under  the  Influence  of  divine 
Wisdom  you  shall  see  meet. 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  our  Yearly  Meeting 
held  in  Phila.  for  Penna.,  New  Jersey  &  Delaware  & 
the  Western  parts  of  Md.  &  Va.  dated  the  4th  day  of 
the  10th  Mo.  1783  by  535  Friends 


ADDKESS  TO  CONGRESS  0:^r  SLAVERY  AND 
THE  SLAVE  TRAFFIC.^ 

The  consideration  of  the  propriety  of  preparing  an 
Address  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  coming 
before  the  Mtg.  was  solidly  attented  to  and  the  pro- 
posal united  with  and  the  following  friends  are  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  an  Essay  accordingly  to  wit, 
George  Churchman,  James  Cresson,  Warner  Mifflin, 
Benjamin  Mason,  Joseph  Tatnel,  Samuel  Alison, 
James  Pemberton,  Nicholas  Wain,  Joshua  Pusey, 
Henry  Drinker,  Samuel  Emlen,  Joseph  West,  Wil- 
ham  Savery,  Joseph  Potts,  John  Simson,  Jacob  Lind- 
ley,  Thomas  Morris,  John  Drinker,  &  Abraham  Gib- 
bons, who  agree  to  meet  this  Evening  at  half  past 
seven  at  the  fourth  Street  Meeting  House. 

To  THE  President,  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives OF  THE  United  States 

(The  Address  of  the  People  called  Quakers  in  their  annual 
Assembly  convened.) 

Firmly  believing  that  where  oppression  and  vio- 
lence is  publickly  advocated  by  those  entrusted  with 
National  authority  as  Guardians  of  the  Common 
rights    of   Humanity,  however  specious  and  spirited 

'  From  Record  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  Jersey,  Delaware  and  the  western  parts  of  ^iary- 
land  and  Virginia,  held  in  Philadelphia  from  the  28th  day  of 
the  9th  Month,  1789,  to  3d  day  of  10th  :\Ionth,  inclusive,  p.  155. 

170 


Waxntx  9^iftiin*  i7i 

their  professions  of  attachment  to  the  cause  of  Lib- 
erty and  the  general  wellbeing  of  the  People  over 
■whom  they  preside,  the  exercise  of  their  power  must 
be  partial  &  unavailing  to  the  important  end  &■  aim 
of  their  Trust;  Unfeigned  righteousness  in  public 
as  well  as  private  Stations  is  the  only  sure  ground  of 
Hope  for  the  divine  Blessing,  whence  alone  Rulers 
can  derive  true  Honour,  establish  sincere  Confidence, 
in  the  Hearts  of  the  People,  and  feeling  their  minds 
animated  with  the  ennobling  Principle  of  universal 
goodwill  to  Men,  find  a  conscious  Dignity  and  Felic- 
ity, in  the  Harmony  and  Success  attending  the  exer- 
cise of  a  solid  uniform  Virtue,  short  of  which  the 
warmest  pretension?  to  public  spirit  Zeal  for  our 
Country  and  the  rights  of  Men,  are  fallacious  and 
illusive. 

Under  this  Persuasion  of  Professors  of  Faith  in 
that  ever-blessed  all-perfect  Lawgiver,  whose  Injunc- 
tion remains  of  undiminished  Obligation  on  all  who 
profess  to  believe  in  him,  "  Whatsoever  ye  would 
that  Men  should  do  unto  you  do  ye  even  so  unto 
them."  We  apprehend  ourselves  religiously  bound 
to  request  your  serious  Christian  attention  to  the 
deeply  interesting  subject  whereon  our  religious 
Society  in  their  Annual  Assembly  in  the  10th  Mo. 
1783  addressed  the  then  Congress — who  tbo'  the 
Christian  rectitude  of  the  Concern  was  by  the  Dele- 
gates generally  acknowledged,  yet  not  being  vested 
with   the   Powers   of  Legislation,  they  declined  pro- 


172  Life  antJ  3nce0ttp  of 

moting  any  public  remedy  against  the  gross  national 
Iniquity  of  trafficking  in  the  Persons  of  Fellow  Men, 
but  divers  of  the  legislative  bodies  of  the  different 
States  on  this  Continent  have  since  manifested  their 
sense  of  the  Public  Detestation  due  to  the  licentious 
Wickedness  of  the  African  Trade  for  Slaves  and  the 
Inhuman  Tyranny  and  Blood  guiltiness  inseparable 
from  it;  the  debasing  Influence  whereof  most  cer- 
tainly tends  to  lay  waste  the  Virtue  and  of  course  the 
Happiness  of  the  People. 

Many  are  the  enormities  abhorrent  to  common 
humanity  and  common  honesty,  which  under  the  Fed- 
eral Countenance  given  to  this  abominable  Com- 
merce are  practised  in  some  of  these  United  States, 
which  we  judge  is  not  needful  to  particularize  to  a 
Body  of  Men  chosen  as  eminently  distinguishable  for 
Wisdom  and  extensive  information,  but  we  find  it 
indispensably  incumbent  on  us  as  a  religious  Body, 
assuredly  believing  that  both  the  true  temporal  In- 
terest of  Xations  and  external  wellbeing  of  Indi- 
%4duals  depend  on  doing  justly,  loving  Mercy,  and 
walking  humbly  before  God,  the  Creator  Preserver 
&  Benefactor  of  Men,  thus  to  attempt  to  excite  your 
attention  to  the  affecting  subject,  earnestly  desiring 
that  the  infinite  Father  of  Spirits  may  so  enrich  your 
minds  with  his  Love  &  Truth,  and  so  influence  your 
understandings  by  that  pure  wisdom  which  is  full  of 
mercy  and  good  Fruits,  as  that  a  sincere  and  impar- 
tial Enquiry  may  take  place,  whether  it  be  not  an 


COarner  Q^iWin.  173 

essential  part  of  the  Duty  of  your  exalted  Station,  to 
exert  upright  endeavors  to  the  full  extent  of  your 
power,  to  remove  every  obstruction  to  public  Right- 
eousness which  the  influence  and  artifice  of  particu- 
lar persons  governed  by  the  narrow  mistaken  views 
of  self  Interest  has  occasioned,  and  whether  notwith- 
standing such  seeming  Impediment  it  be  not  in  real- 
ity within  your  power  to  exercise  Justice  and  Mercy, 
which  if  adhered  to  we  cannot  doubt  must  produce 
the  abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade. 

We  consider  the  subject  so  essentially  and  exten- 
sively important  as  to  warrant  a  Hope  that  the  Lib- 
erty we  now  take  will  be  understood,  as  it  really  is  a 
compliance  with  a  Sense  of  religious  Duty,  and  that 
your  Christian  Endeavours  to  remove  reproach  from 
the  land  may  be  efficacious  to  sweeten  the  labour  & 
lessen  the  difiiculties  incident  to  the  discharge  of  your 
important  Trust. 

Signed  in  6z  on  behalf  of  our  Yearly  Meeting 
for  Penna.  &c,  this  3rd  day  of  10th  Mo  1789. 

Nicholas  Wal:n^ 
Clerk  to  the  Meeting  this  year 


To  THE  PeESIDEXT  OF  THE  UxiTED  StATES 

{The  address  of  the  religious  Society  called  Quakers  from 
their  Yearly  Meeting  for  Penna  dc.) 

Being  met  in   this  our  Annual  Assembly  for  the 

the  promotion  of  universal  Righteousness,  our  Minds 

well  ordering  the  affairs  of  our  religious  Societv  and 


174  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

have  been  dra\\Ti  to  consider  that  the  Almighty  who 
ruleth  in  Heaven  and  in  the  Kingdoms  of  Men,  hav- 
ing permitted  a  great  Revohition  to  take  place  in  the 
Government  of  this  Country,  we  are  fervently  con- 
cerned that  the  Rulers  of  the  People  may  be  favored 
with  the  Counsel  of  God,  the  only  sure  means  of  en- 
abling them  to  fulfill  the  important  trust  committed 
to  their  charge,  and  in  an  especial  manner  that 
Divine  Wisdom  and  Grace  vouchsafed  from  above 
may  qualify  thee  to  fill  up  the  Duties  of  the  exalted 
Station  to  which  thou  art  appointed. 

AYe  are  sensible  thou  hast  obtained  great  place  in 
the  esteem  &  affections  of  the  People  of  all  Denomi- 
nations over  whom  thou  presideth  and  many  eminent 
talents  being  Committed  to  thy  trust  we  much  desire 
they  may  be  fully  devoted  to  the  Lords  Honor  and 
Service,  that  thus  thou  mayst  be  an  Happy  Instru- 
ment in  his  Hand  for  the  suppression  of  Vice,  Infidel- 
ity and  Irreligion  and  every  species  of  oppression  on 
the  Persons  or  Consciences  of  Men,  so  that  Righteous- 
ness <fe  peace  which  truly  exalt  a  Xation  may  prevail 
throughout  the  land,  as  the  only  solid  Foundation 
that  can  be  laid  for  the  Prosperity  and  Happiness  of 
this  or  any  Coimtry. — 

The  free  Toleration  which  the  Citizens  of  these 
States  enjoy  in  the  Public  Worship  of  the  Almighty 
agreeable  to  the  dictates  of  their  Consciencies,  we 
essteem  among  the  choicest  of  Blessings,  and  as  we 
desire  to  be  filled  with  fervent  charitv  for  those  who 


Wmntt  Q^ifflin*  175 

differ  from  us  in  Matters  of  Faith  and  Practice,  be- 
lieving that  the  General  Assembly  of  Saints  is  com- 
posed of  the  Sincere  and  upright  hearted  of  all  Na- 
tions Kingdoms  and  People,  so  we  trust  we  may  just- 
ly claim  it  from  others,  and  in  a  full  persuasion  that 
the  divine  Principle  we  profess  leads  into  Harmony 
and  Concord  we  can  take  no  Part  in  carr^-ing  on  War 
on  any  occasion  or  under  any  Power,  but  are  boimd 
in  Conscience  to  lead  quiet  &  peacable  lives  in  Godli- 
ness and  Honesty  amongst  Men,  contributing  freely 
our  proportion  to  the  Indigencies  of  the  Poor  and  to 
the  necessary  support  of  Civil  Government,  acknowl- 
edging those  who  rule  well  to  be  worthy  of  "  double 
Honour  "  c^'  if  any  professing  with  us  are  or  have 
been  of  a  contrary  Disposition  and  Conduct  we  own 
them  not  therein  having  never  been  chargeable  from 
our  first  establishment  as  a  religious  Society  ^^'ith 
fomenting  or  countenancing  Tumults  or  Conspiracies 
or  Disrespect  to  those  who  are  placed  in  Authority 
over  us. 

We  wish  not  improperly  to  intrude  on  thy  Time 
or  Patience,  nor  is  it  our  practice  to  offer  adulation  to 
any,  but  as  we  are  a  People  whose  Principles  &  Con- 
duct have  been  misrepresented  and  traduced,  we  take 
the  liberty  to  assure  thee  that  we  feel  our  Hearts 
affectionately  drawn  towards  thee  and  those  in 
authority  over  us,  with  Prayers  that  thy  Presidency 
may  under  the  Blessings  of  Heaven  be  happy  to  thy- 
self &:   to   the   People,   that   thro'   the   increase   of 


176  COatnet  Qiifflin* 

Morality  and  True  Religion  Divine  Providence  may 
condescend  to  look  dovm.  upon  our  Land  with  a  pro- 
pitious Eye,  and  bless  the  Inhabitants  with  the  Con- 
tinuance of  Peace,  the  Dew  of  Heaven,  and  the  fat- 
ness of  the  Earth,  and  enable  us  gratefully  to  ac- 
knowledge liis  Manifold  mercies;  and  it  is  our  earnest 
Concern  that  he  may  be  pleased  to  grant  the  every 
necessary  qualification  to  fill  up  thy  weighty  and  im- 
portant Station  to  his  Glory,  so  that  finally  when  all 
Terrestial  Honors  shall  fail  and  pass  away  thou  and 
thy  respectable  Consort  may  be  foimd  Avorthy  to  re- 
ceive a  Crown  of  unfading  Righteousness  in  the 
Mansions  of  Peace  and  Joy  forever. 

Signed  in  &  on  behalf  of  our  said  Mtg  held  in 
Phila  by  adjournment  from  the  28  day  of  9  Mo  to 
the  3  of  10  Mo.  incl.  1789. 

]N'icrH0LAs  Waln 
Clerk  to  the  Meeting  this  year. 


ADDEESS   TO   COXGRESS   OX   EXEMPTION 
FEOM  MILITAEY  DUTY.^ 

28  day  9  Mo  1790. 

That  part  of  the  proposed  Militia  Law  which  of- 
fers exemption  to  such  persons  as  conscientiously  re- 
fuse to  serve  in  the  Militia,  upon  Condition  that  they 
pay  the  sum  of  Two  Dollars  Yearly  towards  defray- 
ing the  expences  of  Civil  Government,  coming  under 
solid  (fc  deliberate  consideration,  it  appears  to  be  the 
united  sense  &  judgment  of  this  Meeting  that  no 
friends  can  pay  such  Fine  or  Tax  consistent  with 
our  Eehgious  Testimony  and  Principle,  it  being 
a  Pine  in  lieu  of  Personal  Service — the  follow- 
ing Friends  are  appointed  to  take  the  same  and 
other  parts  of  the  said  proposed  Law  into  con- 
sideration &  to  prepare  an  address  to  the  Gen- 
eral Congress  on  the  occasion  &  to  produce  the 
essay  to  this  Meeting,  to  wit — Abraham  Gibbons, 
James  Pemberton,  John  Evans,  Eli  Yarnall,  Wil- 
liam Savery,  Joseph  Potts,  George  Churchman, 
Owen  Biddle,  Mark  Miller,  Benjamin  Mason,  War- 
ner Mifflin,  John  Cox. 

The  Friends  imder  appointment  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress and  Memorial  to  the  General  Congress  on  the 
subject   of  the  proposed  Militia  Law,  produced  an 

'  From  Records  of  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Pennsyl- 
vania, &.C.,  held  at  Philadelphia  by  adjournment  from  27th  day 
of  9th  Mo.  to  the  2d  day  of  10th  Mo.,  inclusive,     (p.  180.) 

177 
12 


178  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

Essay  accordingly,  which  ha^^ing  been  several  times 
read  &  also  considered  by  paragraphs  is  with  a  small 
alteration  concurred  with,  and  the  Clerk  is  desired  to 
sign  it  on  behalf  of  the  Meeting  &  the  care  of  pre- 
senting it  is  recommended  to  the  Meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings, it  being  as  follows : 

To  The 

President  Senate  and  House  of  Kepresentatives 

of  the  United  States  in 

Congress  Assembled. 

The  address  &  memorial  of  the  People  called  Qua- 
kers convened  at  their  Yearly  Meeting  for  Pennsyl- 
vania ISTew  Jersey  Delaware  &  the  Eastern  parts  of 
Maryland  &  Virginia  held  in  Philada.  by  adjourn- 
ments from  the  27th  day  of  the  9th  Mo.  to  the  2  of 
10  Mo.  1790  inclusive. 

Through  the  continued  favor  of  Divine  Providence 
being  once  more  permitted  to  assemble  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preserving  circumspection  of  Life  and  decent 
order  throughout  our  religious  Society,  and  as  far  as 
Infinite  Wisdom  may  be  pleased  to  qualify  us,  to  pro- 
mote an  increase  of  Gospel  Righteousness  and  peace 
in  the  Earth — ^In  the  course  of  our  weighty  Delibera- 
tions we  have  been  informed  that  a  Bill  is  published 
by  direction  of  the  House  of  Eepresentatives  that  the 
public  Sentiment  may  be  obtained  ou  the  subject  en- 
tituled — 

"  A  Bill  more  effectually  to  provide  for  the  N'a- 


tional  defence  by  establishing  an  uniform  Militia 
througliout  the  United  States,"  in  which  altho'  we 
perceive  in  some  parts  thereof  appear  intended  for 
the  relief  of  such  who  are  couscientiouslv  scrupulous 
of  taking  any  part  in  War,  yet  we  apprehend  it  our 
Duty  to  remark  that  if  enacted  into  a  Law  will  ma- 
terially affect  us,  and  our  fellow  members  in  general 
in  the  free  exercise  of  conscience,  as  in  Section  six- 
teenth, where  it  enacts  that  every  person  of  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  and  under  fifty  years  who  are  ex- 
empted from  personal  service  in  the  Militia  by  the 
Second  Section  of  the  said  act  (except  all  ^linisters 
of  Eeligion  actually  having  charge  of  a  Church  or 
Congregation,  all  Principals,  Professors  and  other 
Teachers  of,  together  with  the  students  in  Universi- 
ties, Colleges  and  Academies,  all  School  Masters  act- 
ually having  charge  of  a  School  and  all  Mariners  em- 
ployed in  the  sea  service  of  any  Citizen  or  Merchant 
with  the  United  States  as  aforesaid)  shall  pay  an  An- 
nual tax  of  Two  Dollars  into  the  public  Treasury  of 
the  United  States  to  be  applied  towards  the  support 
of  the  Ci^il  Government  thereof,  &c. 

Although  we  cannot  but  gratefully  acknowledge 
our  obligation  to  the  divine  Author  and  Source  of 
every  Mercy  and  Blessing  that  he  hath  so  illuminated 
the  understandings  of  Men  and  disposed  the  Minds  of 
the  Rulers  of  this  Land  as  to  allow  that  degree  of 
Freedom  in  Matters  of  Conscience  which  is  already 
Enjoyed,  yet  duty  to  Almighty  God  revealed  in  the 


180  Life  anD  ancestry  of 

consciences  of  Men  and  confirmed  by  the  scriptures 
of  the  Old  and  Xew  Testament  is  an  invariable  rule 
which  should  govern  their  judgments  and  actions,  he 
being  the  only  Lord  &  Sovereign  of  Conscience,  as  by 
him  all  Men  are  finally  to  be  judged. 

By  Conscience  we  mean  that  apprehension  cS:  per- 
suasion a  man  has  of  his  duty  to  God,  &  the  Liberty 
of  Conscience  we  plead  for  is  a  free  and  open  profes- 
sion and  unmolested  exercise  of  that  Duty,  Such  a 
Conscience  as  keeps  within  the  bounds  of  Morality  in 
all  the  aft'airs  of  human  Life  and  requires  us  to  live 
soberly,  righteously  tfe  godly  in  the  World,  on  which 
depend  the  Peace,  safety  <fe  happiness  of  religious  and 
Civil  Society,  and  it  must  be  allowed  on  serious  Re- 
flection that  every  deviation  from  such  religious  duty 
essentially  disqualifies  for  that  Adoration  and  Wor- 
ship which  is  incumbent  on  all  Men  to  perform  to  the 
Supreme  Being  from  whose  Bounty  all  our  Blessings 
are  derived,  and  eveiw  restraint  imposed  or  attempted 
by  himaan  Laws  on  the  free  Exercise  thereof  is  not 
only  an  Infringement  on  the  just  rights  of  Men,  but 
also  an  Lavasion  of  the  Prerogatives  of  Almighty 
God. 

Under  these  considerations  we  appretend  that  we 
may  reasonably  solicit  an  exemption  from  being  sub- 
jected to  Sufferings  on  account  of  our  conscientious 
Scruples,  but  at  the  same  time  we  may  assure  you 
many  of  us  are  more  solicitous  to  promote  the  preva- 
lence of  the  Dominion  and  Government  of  the  Prince 


matnti  Qpifflin,  isi 

of  peace,  than  to  escape  the  sufferings  we  may  under- 
go by  the  operation  of  such  a  Law,  firmly  believing 
that  all  Eevenge  Animosity  Strife  and  Contention  are 
utterly  forbidden  by  Christ  our  Lord,  as  appears  by 
his  o^^^l  Declaration— Mat.  V. 38  viz:  "'  Ye  have  heard 
that  it  has  been  said,  An  Eye  for  an  Eye  and  a  tooth 
for  a  tooth,  but  I  say  unto  you  ye  resist  not  Evil."  &c. 
And  Mat.  V.  43-4-5.  "  Ye  have  heard  that  it  hath 
been  said.  Thou  shalt  love  thy  ]^eighbor  and  hate 
thine  Enemy,  but  I  say  unto  you  love  your  Enemies, 
bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate 
you,  and  pray  for  them  which  despitefully  use  you 
and  persecute  you,  that  ye  may  be  the  children  of 
vour  Eather  which  is  in  heaven,  for  he  maketh  his 
Sun  to  rise  on  the  Evil  and  on  the  good,  and  sendeth 
rain  on  the  just  &  on  the  imjust." 

Convinced  of  the  necessity  of  a  strict  adherence  to 
these  and  numerous  other  divine  precepts  to  the  same 
effect,  as  well  as  to  the  peaceful  spirit  of  the  Gospel, 
our  religious  Society  have  not  only  uniformly  de- 
clined joining  personally  in  War,  but  have  also  con- 
sidered themselves  conscientiously  bound  to  refuse 
the  payment  of  any  Sum  required  in  Lieu  of  such  per- 
sonal Service  or  in  Consideration  of  an  Exemption 
from  any  Military  Employment,  however  laudable 
the  purposes  are  to  which  the  money  is  intended  to 
be  applied,  as  it  manifestly  infringes  on  the  right  of 
conscience. 


182  matntt  Mifflin* 

With  fervent  Desires  that  jou  may  be  favoured  to 
discern  the  true  Interests  of  the  People  and  be  qual- 
ified to  judge  with  a  righteous  Precision  in  what  re- 
lates to  the  important  concerns  of  Conscience,  that 
the  advancement  of  the  glorious  Gospel  Day  prophet- 
ically declared  may  not  be  retarded,  when  Mankind 
shall  no  longer  view  each  other  with  an  indignant  eye 
of  malevolence,  but  cordially  embrace  as  Brethren, 
and  Nation  shall  not  lift  up  Sword  against  Nation 
neither  leara  War  any  more. 

We  are  respectfully, 

Your  Sincere  Friends 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  the  said 

Yearly  Meeting  by 

Nicholas  Wajjn 
clerk  to  the  Meeting  this  year. 


A 

Serious 

EXPOSTULATION 

with  the 

Members 

»      of  the 

HOUSE  OF  REPKESEXTATFTES. 

of  the 

UNITED  STATES. 

Philadelphia  : 

Printed  in  the  Year 

M,DCC,XCIII. 

In  the  American  Daily  Advertiser,  and  other  pub- 
lic papers,  are  inserted  Debates  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives of  the  United  States,  on  the  28th  of  Xo- 
vember  last,  some  speeches  or  animadversions  of  two 
or  three  of  the  southern  delegates,  on  the  presenta- 
tion of  what  is  there  stiled  "  a  paper  purporting  to  be 
a  memorial  respecting  the  abolition  of  slavery,  which 
in  the  opinion  of  the  said  delegates,  and  divers  others, 
was  declared  to  be  an  application  unconstitutional, 
and  of  mischievous  consequences,  as  it  would  only 
tend  to  render  the  Xegroe  unhappy,  and  excite  them 
to  insurrections  in  those  states  where  they  were  most 
necessary  to  be  retained;  and  that  even  the  publica- 
tion  of  a   fanatical    memorial  in   the   news-papers, 

183 


184  Life  anD  ^nccsttp  of 

might  have  a  fatal  effect  in  disturbing  the  present  ex- 
cellent harmony  of  the  union;  for  the  people  of  the 
southern  states  may  be  led  thereby  to  suppose,  that 
this  memorial  is  before  Congress  and  will  be  dis- 
cussed during  the  present  session,  it  is  therefore  the 
more  necessary  to  undeceive  them,  by  publishing  the 
contrary,  and  by  expunging  the  entry  from  the  jour- 
nals." 

Having  believed  it  my  religious  duty  to  address 
that  memorial  to  Congress,  and  that  in  so  doing,  I 
was  really  influenced  by  the  Catholic  principle  of 
universal  good-will  to  men,  and  sincerely  desirous  of 
promoting  that  excellent  liarmony  and  union,  which 
is  founded  on  the  solid  basis  of  impartial  liberty  and 
common  right,  I  may  acknowledge  it  is  far  from  be- 
ing a  matter  of  indifference  to  me  to  find,  in  the 
above-cited  publication,  so  little  regard  paid  to  this 
great  fundamental  of  the  public  weal,  by  men  chosen 
and  entrusted  to  fill  a  station  so  very  important,  who 
ought  and  may  be  supposed,  on  a  subject  of  so  inter- 
esting and  extensive  concernment,  to  speak  their  real 
sentiments,  unbiassed  by  any  sinister  purpose;  I  have 
been  therefore  led  I  trust,  by  the  same  disinterested 
and  Christian  motive,  which  induced  me  to  make  the 
application  in  question,  to  enter  into  a  close  self-ex- 
amination and  reconsideration  of  the  tenor  of  my  said 
memorial,  lest  through  an  unguarded  warmth  of 
zeal,  I  might  have  given  occasion  to  those  not  well- 
affected  to  that  divine  precept  and  perfect  rule  of 


maimt  e^itUin*  i85 

Tiniyersal  equity,  enjoined  by  the  highest  authority, 
whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  ye 
even  so  unto  them  ^ — to  stamp  the  righteous  and  lib- 
eral aim  and  design  of  my  memorial,  with  the  oppro- 
brious stigma  of  fanaticism;  and  as  far  as  I  have 
been  capable  of  an  impartial  scrutiny,  I  do  not  find 
anything  therein  contained  more  justly  meriting  so 
invidious  a  censure,  than  what  may  be  found  in  divers 
publications  of  Congress  on  the  same  subject;  some 
of  which  I  have  thought  proper  to  select  and  bring 
into  view,  beginning  with  the  following  remarkable 
language  of  the  association  entered  into  the  20th  of 
October,  1774. 

"  And  therefore  we  do  for  ourselves  and  the  in- 
habitants of  the  several  colonies  whom  we  represent, 
firmly  agree  and  associate  under  the  sacred  ties  of  vir- 
tue, honor,  and  love  of  our  country,  as  follows: 

2d  Article.  "  TVe  will  neither  import  nor  pur- 
chase any  slaves  imported  after  the  first  day  of  De- 
cember next,  after  which  time  we  will  wholly  discon- 
tinue the  Slave  Trade,  and  will  neither  be  concerned 
in  it  ourselves,  nor  will  we  hire  our  vessels,  nor  sell 
our  commodities  or  manufactures  to  those  who  are 
cemed  in  it.^ 

8th  Article.  "And  will  discountenance  and  dis- 
courage every  species  of  extravagance  and  dissipa- 

^Matt.  vii.,  31. 

^Did  not  Virginia  and  Maryland  consider  this  to  be  per- 
petual, by  their  Assemblies  passing  laws  accordingly? 


186  Mit  anD  ance$trp  of 

tion,  especially  all  horse-racing,  and  all  kinds  of  gam- 
ing, cock-fighting,  exhibitions  of  shews,  plays,  and 
other  expensive  diversions  and  entertainments." 

(TO  THE   INHABITANTS   OF  THE   COLONIES.) 

"  In  ever}^  case  of  opposition  by  a  people  to  their 
rulers,  or  of  one  state  to  another,  duty  to  Almighty 
God,  the  Creator  of  all,  requires,  that  a  true  and  im- 
partial judgment  be  formed  of  the  measures  leading 
to  such  opposition;  and  of  the  causes  by  which  it  has 
been  provoked,  or  ran  in  any  degree  be  justified,  that 
neither  affection  on  the  one  hand,  nor  resentment  on 
the  other,  being  permitted  to  give  a  wrong  bias  to 
reason,  it  may  be  enabled  to  take  a  dispassionate  view 
of  all  circumstances,  and  to  settle  the  public  conduct 
on  the  solid  foundations  of  wisdom  and  justice.  From 
counsels  thus  tempered  arise  the  purest  hopes  of  the 
divine  favor,  and  the  firmest  encouragement  to  the 
parties  engaged,  and  the  strongest  recommendations 
of  their  cause  to  the  rest  of  mankind,  etc." 

(address  to  the  INHABITANTS  OF  CANADA,  MAT  29,  1775.) 

"  AVhen  hardy  attempts  arc  made  to  deprive  men 
of  rights  bestowed  by  the  Almighty,  when  avenues 
are  cut  through  the  most  solemn  compacts  for  the  ad- 
mission of  despotism." 

(DECLARATION  JULY  6,  1775,  OF  THE  CAUSES  AND  NECESSITY 
OF  TAKING  UP  ARMS.) 

"  If  it  were  possible  for  men  who  exercise  their  rea- 
son to  believe,  that  the  Divine  Author  of  our  exist- 


Watntt  Q^ifflin*  i87 

ence  intended  a  part  of  the  human  race  to  hold  an  ab- 
solute property  in,  and  unbounded  power  over  others, 
marked  out  by  infinite  goodness  and  wisdom  as  the 
objects  of  a  legal  domination,  never  rightfully  resist- 
able,  however  severe  and  oppressive,  the  inhabitants 
of  these  colonies  might  at  least  require  from  the 
Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  some  evidence  that  this 
dreadful  authority  over  them  has  been  granted  to  that 
body.^ 

"  But  a  reverence  for  our  great  Creator,  principles 
of  himianity  and  the  dictates  of  common  sense  must 
convince  all  those  who  reflect  upon  the  subject,  that 
government  was  instituted  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
mankind,  and  ought  to  be  administered  for  the  attain- 
ment of  that  end.  The  Legislature  of  Great  Britain 
however  stimulated  by  an  inordinate  passion  for 
power,  &c." 

(2d.  address  to  the  people  of  ENGLAND,  JXJLY  8TH,   1775.) 

"  Britain 3  can  never  become  the  instruments  of 
oppression  'till  they  lose  the  spirit  of  freedom." 

(ADDRESS  TO  IRELAND,  JULY  28,   1775.) 

"  Compelled  to  behold  thousands  of  our  country- 
men imprisoned,  and  men,  women,  and  children  in- 
volved in  promiscuous  and  unremitted  misery,  when 
we  find  all  faith  at  an  end,  and  sacred  treaties  turned 
into  tricks  of  state;  when  we  perceive  our  friends  and 
kinsmen  massacred,  our  habitations  plundered,  our 
houses  in.  flames." 

^  So  may  the  Africans  say. 


188  Life  and  ancestrp  of 

(axd  in  the  declaration  of  ixdepexdence  is  ixsebted 
bespectzng  the  king  as  follows :  ) 

"  He  has  plundered  our  seas,  ravaged  our  coasts, 
burnt  our  towns,  and  destroyed  the  lives  of  our  peo- 
ple. He  is  at  this  time  transporting  large  armies  of 
foreign  mercenaries  to  complete  the  works  of  death, 
desolation  and  tyranny,  already  begun  with  circum- 
stances of  cruelty  and  perfidy  scarcely  paralleled  in 
the  most  barbarous  ages,  and  totally  unworthy  of  the 
head  of  a  civilized  nation.  He  has  excited  domestic 
insurrections  amongst  us." 

And  here  I  think  it  may  be  proper  to  mention, 
that  under  permission  of  Divine  Providence,  the 
measure  which  both  Britains  and  Americans  had  long 
dealt  to  the  natives  of  Africa,  they  were  in  like  man- 
ner suiiered  reciprocally  to  mete  out  to  each  other, 
by  burning  towns,  &c.,  captivating  their  inhabitants, 
stowing  them  into  gaols  and  prison  ships,  to  linger 
under  agonizing  pains  unto  cruel  death;  at  this  stage 
of  affairs  Congress  resolve  at  different  times  on  public 
fasting  and  prayers,  wherein  they  acknowledge  the 
superintendence  of  an  all  wise  Providence,  and  the 
obligations  our  nation  was  under,  to  reform  from 
its  sins  and  implore  his  merciful  interposition,  to  re- 
move those  calamities  from  the  land,  and  avert  those 
desolating  judgments  with  which  we  were  threatened. 
See  Journal  June  12,  1775,  and  March  16,  1776. 

In  a  pamphlet,  entitled,  "  Observations  on  the 
American  Revolution,"  published  by  order  of  Con- 


mamtt  Mifflin*  i89 

gress  in  1779,  tlie  following  sentiments  are  declared 
to  the  world^  viz: 

"  The  great  principle  (of  government)  is  and  ever 
will  remain  in  force,  tliat  men  are  by  nature  free;  as 
accountable  to  him  that  made  them,  they  must  be  so; 
and  so  long  as  we  have  any  idea  of  Divine  Justice, 
we  must  associate  that  of  human  freedom.  Whether 
men  can  part  mth  their  liberty,  is  among  the  ques- 
tions which  have  exercised  the  ablest  writers;  but  it 
is  concluded  on  all  hands,  that  the  right  to  be  free  can. 
never  be  alienated — still  less  is  it  practicable  for  one 
generation  to  mortgage  the  privileges  of  another." 

After  the  laborious  productions  of  the  wisdom  of 
this  country,  manifested  to  the  world  by  the  declara- 
tions and  addresses  from  which  the  foregoing  are  ex- 
tracted, with  others  of  a  similar  nature,  demonstra- 
ting the  natural  rights  of  men  in  so  clear  a  manner, 
the  following  appears  to  have  been  adopted  as  the 
then  faith  of  the  nation,  in  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence the  4th  of  July  1776,  viz: 

"  "We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all 
men  are  created  equal,  that  they  are  endowed  by 
their  Creator  with  certain  unalienable  rights;  that 
amongst  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  hap- 
piness." 

At  the  time  of  entering  into  the  solemn  league  and 
covenant  (20th  October  1774)  to  vindicate  the  rights 
of  man,  and  promote  national  righteousness,  had  any 
one  declared  as  their  opinion  that  it  was  of  mischiev- 


190  Life  anD  anccstrp  of 

ous  consequence,  tending  to  render  unhappy  the  help- 
less victims  of  despotic  tyranny,  and  excite  to  insur- 
rection, or  attempted  to  enforce  as  a  political  creed, 
so  detestable  a  position,  as  that  a  happy  national  har- 
mony and  union  depended  on  securing  to  one  class  of 
men,  the  power  and  privilege  of  enslaving  and  exer- 
cising an  imperious  lordship  over  another  part  of 
God's  rational  creation,  such  person,  though  he  might 
not  have  been  stigmatized  as  a  fanatic — ^would  doubt- 
less have  been  in  danger  of  being  proscribed  as  an 
enemy  to  his  country,  and  a  traitor  to  the  common 
cause  of  equal  liberty :  now  feeling  such  a  weight  on 
my  spirit,  I  am  thereby  impelled,  by  a  sense  of  duty 
to  the  Sovereign  of  the  Universe,  and  the  dictates  of 
humanity,  to  open  my  mouth  for  the  dumb,  in  the 
cause  of  such  as  are  appointed  to  destruction;  and  if 
this  is  fanaticism,  enthusiasm,  Szq.  may  the  Almighty 
grant  a  double  portion  to  what  I  ever  experienced, 
if  it  be  his  holy  will.  I  cannot  use  the  carnal  sword 
in  my  country's  defence,  I  believe  that  weapon  for 
a  Christian  to  be  unlawful,  yet  I  trust  I  shall  with 
the  weapons  that  are  to  me  lawful  in  the  cause  of  my 
country,  manifest  as  much  firmness  and  stability, 
though  it  be  in  the  exercise  of  one  talent,  as  those 
vv-ho  think  themselves  justified  in  the  use  of  other  and 
greater  talents:  and  therefore,  as  I  do  indeed  feel 
alarmed,  when  I  consider  that  the  solemn  professions 
so  lately  made  in  time  of  extremity  and  danger,  and 
held  up  as  the  national  faith,  should  so  soon  on  this 


CQatnet  ^iftihu  i9i 

important  occasion  seem  to  be  regarded  as  mere 
tricks  of  state,  what  can  be  thought  will  be  the  issue  ? 
May  it  not  be  considered  like  trifling  with  omnipo- 
tence ? 

I  crave  your  patience,  my  fellow  citizens — I  am 
interested  in  the  weKare  of  this  coimtry;  but  I  can- 
not have  any  conception  that  this  nation  will  long 
fare  well,  when  after  such  declamations  against 
Britain  on  account  of  the  despotic  measures  pursued 
by  her  administration,  the  spirit  of  tyranny  and  op- 
pression is  suffered  so  readily  to  prevail  in  the  coun- 
cils of  American  rulers,  to  a  degree  in  no  instance 
exceeded  by  Britain;  on  which  head  I  venture  to 
appeal  to  the  witness  for  God  in  your  own  breasts, 
which  will  undoubtedly  show  the  national  iniquity  is 
the  same,  whether  it  proceed  from  Acts  of  Conven- 
tion, or  receive  its  strength  from  the  countenance  of 
Congress. 

Had  Congress  done  as  much  towards  removing  this 
national  guilt,  as  by  the  tenor  of  their  own  vote  they 
have  power  to  do,  there  is  no  doubt  with  me,  but  that 
it  would  at  least  have  given  a  very  powerful  check,  if 
not  a  total  stop  to  the  odious  traffic,  notwithstanding 
the  plea  of  restriction  in  the  constitution  of  the  gen- 
eral government:  but  whether  you  will  hear  or  for- 
bear, I  think  it  my  duty  to  tell  you  plainly,  that  I 
believe  the  blood  of  the  slain,  and  the  oppression 
exercised  in  Africa,  promoted  by  Americans,  and  in 
this  country  also,  will  stick  to  the  skirts  of  every  in- 


192  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

dividual  of  your  body,  who  exercise  the  powers  of 
Legislation,  and  do  not  exert  their  talents  to  clear 
themselves  of  this  abomination,  when  they  shall  be  ar- 
raigned before  the  tremendous  bar  of  the  judgment- 
seat  of  liim  who  will  not  fail  to  do  right,  in  rendering 
unto  every  man  his  due;  even  him  who  early  de- 
clared, "  at  the  hand  of  every  man's  brother  will  I 
require  the  life  of  man";  before  whom  the  natural 
black  skin  of  the  body  will  never  occasion  such  degra- 
dation. I  desire  to  approach  you  with  proper  and  due 
respect,  in  the  temper  of  a  Christian,  and  the  firm- 
ness of  a  veteran  American  Freeman,  to  plead  the 
cause  of  injured  innocence,  and  open  my  mouth  for 
my  oppressed  brethren,  who  cannot  open  theirs  for 
themselves,  I  ask  no  pecuniary  advantage  for  my 
self,  neither  post  or  pension.  I  feel  the  sweets  of 
American  Liberty — ^I  trust  I  am  sensible  of  and 
thankful  for  the  favor;  and  am  not  easy  to  partake  of 
mine  so  partially,  and  see,  hear  and  know  of  my 
brethren  and  fellow  mortals  being  so  arbitrarily  and 
cruelly  deprived  of  theirs,  and  not  enter  my  protest. 
I  desire  to  have  this  favor  and  blessing  continued  to 
myself  and  posterity,  and  cannot  but  view  the  tenure, 
both  to  myself  and  coimtrymen,  as  very  precarious, 
wliile  a  plea  is  founded  on  the  general  constitution,  in 
bar  of  the  rights  of  man;  and  the  equal  distribution 
of  justice  being  confirmed,  that  the  views  of  a  right- 
eous government  would  be,  to  promote  the  welfare 
of  mankind  universally,  as  well  those  of  other  nations, 


caarner  Mifflin.  193 

as  the  subjects  or  citizens  of  its  ovm;  and  therefore, 
that  it  is  obligatory  on  the  United  States,  to  prevent 
the  citizens  thereof  injuring  the  inhabitants  of 
Africa,  as  those  of  one  state  the  citizens  of  another: 
and  I  doubt  not  in  the  least,  if  Africa  was  in  a  situa- 
tion to  send  fleets  and  armies  here  to  retaliate,  but 
Congress  would  soon  devise  ways,  without  violating 
the  Constitution,  to  prevent  our  citizens  from  aggra- 
vating them.  The  almost  daily  accounts  I  have  of 
the  inhumanity  perpetrated  in  these  states  on  this 
race  of  men,  distresses  me  night  and  day,  and  brings 
the  subject  of  the  Slave  Trade  \vith  more  pressure  on 
my  spirit ;  and  I  believe  I  feel  a  measure  of  the  same 
obligation  that  the  Prophet  did  when  he  was  ordered 
to  cry  aloud,  spare  not,  lift  up  thy  voice  like  a  trum- 
pet, and  shew  my  people  their  transgressions,  and 
the  house  of  Jacob  their  sins.  And  here  I  think  I 
can  shew,  that  our  nation  are  revolting  from  the  law 
of  God,  the  law  of  reason  and  humanity,  and  the  just 
principles  of  government;  and  with  rapid  strides 
establishing  tyranny  and  oppression ;  to  prove  which, 
I  need  do  no  more  than  oppose  the  present  conduct 
of  the  nation,  to  that  part  of  it  which  I  have  now 
brought  to  your  vieAv,  from  the  former  journals  of 
Congress,  and  then  mention  the  sanction  the  African 
Slave  Trade  at  this  time  has  from  the  general  govern- 
ment ;  in  proof  of  which  I  may  refer  to  the  condition 
13 


194  JLife  anD  ancestrp  ot 

on  which  Congress  accepted  the  cession  of  the  West- 
ern Territory  of  North  Carolina,  viz:  That  no  regu- 
lation made  or  to  he  made  shall  tend  to  emancipate 
slaves. 

I  am  concerned  that  the  leaders  of  the  people  may 
not  cause  them  to  err,  or  strengthen  them  in  error; 
the  plea  now  is  by  state  Legislators,  as  well  as  other 
classes  of  citizens,  and  even  those  abandoned  dealers 
in  the  persons  of  men,  that  Congress  authorizes  the 
traffic  as  I  myself  now  believe  you  virtually  do. 

If  your  disapprobation  of  this  trade  as  a  body  was 
publicly  kno"\\Ti  to  be  sincere,  I  believe  it  would  have 
a  good  effect ;  and  if  you  are  so  it  is  my  judgment  the 
people  has  a  right  to  know  and  expect  it  from  you.  I 
am  persuaded,  nine  tenths  of  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  reprobate  the  African  Trade,  and  con- 
sider every  slave  imported  an  injury  to  the  public; 
and  that  they  repose  confidence  in  your  wisdom  as 
guardians  of  the  nation,  to  prevent  its  injury;  and 
that  herein  you  betray  the  trust  reposed  in  you, 
which  is  indeed  a  great  and  weighty  trust,  even  to  do 
that  which  of  right  ought  to  be  done  by  the  nation; 
therefore  it  requires  on  this  very  important  subject 
your  deep  and  serious  consideration,  what  you  can  do 
so  as  to  obtain  the  favor  of  Divine  Providence  to  that 
land,  which  I  do  indeed  believe  will  be  marked  with 
something  very  different,  if  such  an  inhuman  traffic 
is  continued. 


Garnet  ^ifUm.  i95 

Humane  petitions  have  been  presented,  to  excite 
in  Congress  benevolent  feelings  for  the  sufferings  of 
our  fellow  citizens  under  cruel  bondage  to  Turks  and 
Algcrines,  and  that  the  national  power  and  mfluence 
might  be  exerted  for  their  relief;  with  this  virtuous 
apphcation  I  unite,  but  lament  that  any  of  my  coim- 
trymen,  who  are  distinguished  as  men  eminently 
qualified  for  public  station,  should  be  so  enslaved  by 
ilHberal  prejudice,  as  to  treat  with  contempt  a  like 
solicitude  for  another  class  of  men  still  more  griev- 
ously oppressed. 

I  profess  freely,  and  am  willing  my  profession  was 
known  over  the  world,  that  I  feel  the  calls  of  human- 
ity as  strong  towards  an  African  in  America,  as  to  an 
American  in  Algiers,  both  being  my  brethren;  espe- 
cially as  I  am  informed  the  Algerine  treats  his  slave 
with  more  humanity;  and  I  believe  the  sin  of  oppres- 
sion on  the  part  of  the  American  is  greatest  in  the 
sight  of  the  father  of  the  family  of  mankind.    , 

I  hope  some  will  excuse  my  inserting,  in  this  apolo- 
getic expostulation,  a  few  texts  of  scripture  as  they 
revive — I  trust  there  are  some  of  our  rulers  yet 
believe  in  the  authenticity  of  the  holy  scriptures; 
what  revives  now,  is  the  declaration  of  our  Lord, 
Matt.  25  chap,  and  41  verse.  Then  shall  he  say  also 
to  them  on  the  left  hand,  depart  from  me  ye  cursed, 
&c.    They  also  shall  ans^ver  him,  saying — ^When  saw 


106  Life  anD  ance^trp  of 

we  thee  an  Imngred,  or  athii-st,  or  a  stranger,  or 
naked,  or  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister  unto 
thee?  His  answer  then  you  may  read, — Inasmuch  as 
you  did  it  not  to  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  not  to  me. 

That  I  may  not  be  thought  to  trespass  on  your 
patience  on  this  momentous  subject,  after  repeating 
my  special  request,  that  you  would  without  delay 
exert  your  power  and  influence  to  frustrate  the  avari- 
cious purpose  of  those  mercenaries,  who  are  perhaps 
now  on  their  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  Africa,  to 
bring  to  some  of  the  Southern  states  cargoes  of  inno- 
cent human  beings  into  cruel,  unconditional  bondage ; 
the  grounds  I  have  for  this  apprehension  are,  I  be- 
lieve, not  unknown  to  some  among  you.  I  will  draw 
towards  a  conclusion,  with  a  quotation  from  the 
address  of  Congress  to  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica, 
dated  26th  of  July  1775. 

"  We  receive  uncommon  pleasure  from  observing 
the  principles  of  our  righteous  opposition  distin- 
guished by  your  approbation:  we  feel  the  warmest 
gratitude  for  your  pathetic  mediation  in  our  behalf 
with  the  crown — but  are  you  to  blame?  mournful 
experience  tells  us,  that  petitions  are  often  rejected, 
while  the  sentiments  and  conduct  of  the  petitioners 
entitled  what  they  offer  to  a  happier  fate." 

That  wisdom  from  above  may  be  mercifully  vouch- 
safed to  direct  the  councils  of  America,  that  this 
extensive  and  rising  republic  may  be  exalted  by  right- 


mmmt  OPifflin*  197 

eousness,  and  not  overturned  by  pride,  oppression, 
and  forgetf Illness  of  the  rightful  Kuler  and  Dread  of 
Nations,  is  the  prayer  of  an  enthusiast  in  a  pure  and 
uneorrupted  sense,  and  who  am  both  yours  individ- 
ually and  my  country's  real  friend, 

Waei^er  Mifflin. 


Kent  County,  State  of  Delaware, 
21st  of  the  1st  Month,  1793. 


ADDRESS  TO  CONGRESS  OX  SLAVERY/ 

The  continued  extension  of  a  benevolent  cliristian 
care  towards  that  degraded  &  injured  class  of  man- 
kind, the  black  people,  is  afresh  urged  as  matter  of 
duty  worthy  to  be  deeply  felt  after,  not  only  in  our 
Meetings  for  Sufferings  especially,  but  also  by  our 
Brethren  in  Profession  at  large,  that  opportunities  for 
exercise  of  Justice  <fe  Charity,  as  fit  occasion  presents, 
may  not  be  overlooked.  And  as  the  minutes  of  our 
fleeting  for  Sufferings  exhibit  an  effecting  view  of 
the  enormous  injustice  &  ci'uelty  inflicted  in  some  of 
the  Southern  States  on  free  persons  of  the  African 
Race,  it  is  believed  seasonable  that  a  suitable  remon- 
strance to  the  General  Government  ^\'ill  consist  ^vith 
the  cause  of  truth  and  Righteousness  for  the  promo- 
tion thereof  we  are  met;  the  following  friends  are 
therefore  named  to  give  weighty  attention  thereto 
and  prepare  for  the  consideration  of  the  Meeting 
what  they  may  judge  proper  on  the  occasion  viz: — 
John  Parrish,  Xicholas  "Wain,  "Warner  Miiflin,  John 
Drinker,  Samuel  Troth,  Thomas  Morris,  John  Simp- 
son, Henry  Drinker,  George  Churchman,  Jacob  Lind- 
ley,  Mark  Miller. 

The  Committee  named  to  prepare  an  Essay  of  an 
Address  to  the  General  Legislature  having  produced 

'  From  Minutes  Yearly  Meeting  of  FYiends  held  in  Philadel- 
phia by  adjournment  from  25th  day  of  the  9th  Mo.  to  the  29th 
of  the  same,  inclusive,  1797.     (p.  349.) 

198 


matntt  ^ifnin.  199 

the  same,  it  was  read  &  after  deliberately  attending 
to  its  contents,  the  concurrence  of  the  ^Meeting  being 
expressed,  it  is  directed  to  be  transcribed  and  sigmed 
by  the  clerk,  and  the  following  friends  are  desired 
carefully  to  attend  to  the  most  suitable  opportunity 
for  presenting  it,  viz: 

Xicholas  Wain,  David  Bacon,  Jacob  Lindley,  John 
Hoskins,  Warner  Mifflin,  Abraham  Gibbons,  John 
Parrish,  Henry  Drinker,  Jonathan  Evans,  Mark 
Miller,  Thomas  Morris,  Thomas  Stewardson,  Oliver 
Paxson,  Richard  Hartshorne,  John  Hunt. — The  Ad- 
dress being  as  follows: 

To  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States  in  Congress  assembled. 

The  Memorial  ct  Address  of  the  People  called 
Quakers  from  their  Yearly  Meeting  held  in  Pliila 
by  adjournments  from  the  25  of  the  9  Mo  to  the  29 
of  the  same  inclusive  1797 

Respectfully  sheweth 

That  being  convened  at  this  our  Annual  Solemnity 
for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  of  Truth  &  Righteous- 
ness, we  have  been  favored  to  experience  religious 
weight  to  attend  our  minds  6z  an  anxious  desire  to 
follow  after  those  things  which  make  for  peace, 
among  other  investigations  the  oppressed  state  of  our 
Brethren  of  the  African  Race  has  been  brought  into 
view,  and  particularly  the  circumstances  of  one  hun- 


200  Life  anD  ^ncestrp  of 

dred  &  thirty  four  in  i^orth  Carolina,  and  many- 
others  whose  cases  have  not  so  fully  come  to  our 
knowledge  who  were  set  free  by  members  of  our  re- 
ligious Society  and  again  reduced  into  cruel  bondage 
under  the  authority  of  existing  or  retrospective  laws, 
Husbands  &  Wives  &  Children  separated  one  from 
another  which  we  apprehend  to  be  an  abominable 
Tragedy;  and  with  other  acts  of  a  similiar  nature 
practiced  in  other  States  has  the  tendency  to  bring 
down  the  judgments  of  a  righteous  God  upon  our 
Land 

This  City  and  neighborhood  and  some  other  parts 
have  been  visited  with  an  awful  calamity  which  ought 
to  excite  an  inquiry  into  the  Cause,  and  endeavors  to 
do  away  with  those  things  which  occasion  the  heavy 
clouds  that  hang  over  us — It  is  easy  with  the 
Almighty  to  bring  dovm  the  loftiness  of  Men  by 
diversified  judgments  and  to  make  them  hear  the  Rod 
and  Him  that  hath  appointed  it. 

We  wish  to  revive  in  your  view  the  solemn  engage- 
ment of  Congress  made  in  the  year  1774  as  follows 
viz: 

And  therefore  we  do  for  ourselves  and  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  several  Colonies  whom  we  represent 
firmly  agree  &  associate  under  the  sacred  ties  of  Vir- 
tue Honour  and  love  of  our  Country  as  follows: 

2nd  Article.  We  will  neither  import  nor  purchase 
any  Slaves  imported  after  the  first  day  of  December 
next,  after  which  time  we  will  wholly  discontinue  the 


taarner  ^imin.  201 

Slave  Trade  and  will  neither  be  concerned  in  it  our- 
selves nor  will  we  hire  our  vessels  nor  sell  our  com- 
modities or  manufactures  to  those  who  are  concerned 
in  it. 

8th  Article.  x\nd  will  discountenance  &  discourage 
every  species  of  extravagance.  &  dissipation  espe- 
cially all  horse-racing  and  all  kinds  of  gaming,  cock- 
fighting,  exhibitions  of  shews  plays  6c  other  expensive 
diversions  &  entertainments. 

This  was  a  solemn  League  &  covenant  made  with 
the  Almighty  in  an  hour  of  distress  and  he  is  now 
calling  upon  you  to  perform  <fc  fulfill  it,  but  how  has 
this  solemn  covenant  been  contravened  by  the  wrongs 
&  cruelties  practiced  upon  the  poor  African  race — 
the  increase  of  dissipation  &  luxury,  the  countenance 
6z  Encouragement  given  to  playhouses  &  other  vain 
amusements  &  how  grossly  is  the  Almighty  affronted 
on  the  day  of  the  celebration  of  Independence.  What 
rioting  dz  drunkedness,  chambering  &  wantonness,  to 
the  great  grief  of  sober  inhabitants  &  the  disgrace  of 
our  Xational  character. 

Xational  Evils  produce  Xational  judgments.  We 
therefore  fervently  pray  the  Governor  of  the  Uni- 
verse may  enlighten  your  understandings  6:  influence 
your  minds  so  as  to  Engage  you  to  use  every  exertion 
in  your  power  to  have  these  things  redressed. 

With  sincere  desires  for  your  happiness  here  & 
hereafter  &  that  when  you  come  to  close  this  life  you 
mav  individually  be  able  to  appeal  as  a  ruler  did  for- 


202  COatner  Mifflin. 

merly,  "  Remember  now  O  Lord  I  beseech  Thee  how 
have  I  walked  before  Thee  in  Truth  6z  with  a  perfect 
heart  and  have  done  that  which  is  good  in  thy  sight." 
We  remain  your  friends  and  fellow  citizens 

Signed  in  6z  on  behalf  of  the  said  Meeting  by 

Jonathan  Evans 
Clerk  to  the  Meeting  this  year 


FROM  MINTTES  YEAELY  MEETING  HELD  IN  PHILA  24  OF 

9  MO.  1798  (p  369) 

The  Friends  named  last  year  to  present  the  Ad- 
dress of  this  Meeting  to  the  General  Legislature  of 
the  United  States  mentioned  their  having  performed 
the  service  and  had  therein  a  good  degree  of  satis- 
faction 


WILL  OF   ANNE  EYRE. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen. 

I,  Anne  Eyre,  of  ye  county  of  Northampton  in 
Virginia,  being  sick  in  body,  butt  in  perfect  sense 
and  memory,  bless  be  God  for  it,  do  make  this  my  last 
Will  and  Testimony,  in  manner  and  for  me  as  follow- 
eth,  that  is  to  say,  First  my  desire  is  that  all  mj^  just 
debts  bee  paid. 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Granddaughter  Anne 
Nock  my  negro  girle  Lidda  and  her  increase  to  be  de- 
livered to  her  at  lawful  aige. 

I  give  unto  my  Granddaughter  Anne  ]\iifilin  my 
negro  girle  Hannah  and  all  her  increase  to  be  deliv- 
ered to  her  at  lawful  aige. 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Grandson  Thomas 
Eyre,  my  negro  girle  Sarah,  and  her  increase  to  be 
delivered  to  him  at  lawful  aige. 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Granddaughter  Sarah 
Nock,  my  negro  girle  Esther,  with  her  increase  to  be 
delivered  to  her  at  lawful  aige. 

1  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Grandson  Ezekiel 
Nock  my  girle  Betty  with  her  increase  to  be  delivered 
to  him  at  lawful  aige. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Mary  Mifflin 
my  negro  girle  Judah  with  her  increase  forever. 

I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Grandson  Daniel 
203 


204  jLife  anD  ancestrp  of 

l^ock,  mj  negro  girle  Mary  with  her  increase  to  be 
delivered  to  him  at  lawful  aige. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Mary  Mifflin, 
my  negro  woman  Jenny  with  all  her  children,  I  give 
them  to  her  and  her  heirs  forever. 

I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  son  Daniel  Eyre,  my 
negro  man  Daniel  and  my  negro  woman  Betty  with 
their  increase. 

I  give  to  my  daughter  Mary  Mifflin  ye  best  bed, 
best  bowlster  and  quilt  that  I  have,  and  my  chest  of 
drawers,  and  my  riding  horse. 

I  give  to  my  Granddaughter  Anne  Nock  one  silke 
rugg,  one  paire  of  steeles  and  two  pillo  cases. 

I  give  unto  my  son  Daniel  Eyre  ye  second  best 
bedd,  bowlster  and  a  hammock. 

I  give  unto  my  grandchildren,  viz.,  Anne  Nock, 
Anne  MifBin,  Patience  Xock  and  Thomas  Nock  all 
my  pewder  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  them. 

I  give  unto  my  son  Daniel  Eyre  all  my  tools,  viz.. 
Carpenter,  Cooper,  and  Shewmaker. 

My  desire  is  that  my  neger  Sambow,  may  have  his 
liberty  to  goe  to  which  of  my  childer  hee  pleases. 

I  give  unto  my  daughter  Sarali  Nock,  my  young 
horse  and  draggen  horse. 

I  give  unto  John  Mills  two  hundred  pounds  of 
tobacco. 

I  give  unto  my  daughter  Mary  Mifflin  my  mear 
Spark  and  Bonny,  Yearlin  Mear. 


Wamtt  Mifflin,  205 

I  give  to  Teague,  Dear,  all  that  he  owes  me  pr. 
aeo*. 

I  give  to  my  Granddaughter  Anne  !N"oek  my  redd 
trunke  and  ye  chist  that  the  Pewther  is  in. 

I  give  all  ye  remainder  of  my  chists  and  trunks  to 
be  equally  divided  among  my  three  childer. 

I  give  unto  my  daughter  Sarah  Nock,  the  bedd 
that  I  now  lye  on. 

I  give  to  my  Granddaughter  Anne  Nock  a  new 
large  bedd  tick  and  bowlster  with  forty  pounds  of 
new  fethers. 

I  give  to  my  son  Daniel  Eyre  ye  remainder  of  my 
fethers  that  is  out  of  bedds. 

My  will  and  desire  is  that  all  that  is  herein  given 
be  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever. 

I  give  to  my  Grandson  John  Mifflin  thirty  pounds 
current  silver  money  of  Virginia. 

I  give  to  my  daughter  Sarah  Nock  thirty  pounds 
current  silver,  money  of  Virginia. 

My  will  and  desire  is  that  all  ye  remainder  of  my 
estate  of  what  naiture  or  kind  soever  may  bee  equally 
divided  amongst  my  three  childer  Sarah,  Mary,  and 
Daniel. 

My  will  and  desire  is  that  my  estate  may  not  bee 
appraist.  I  make  and  appoint  my  sons,  Daniel  Eyre, 
Thomas  Nock  and  Edward  Mifflin  to  be  joint  execu- 
tors of  this  my  last  will  and  testimony.    In  testimony 


206  e^latnet  Q^ifflin* 

whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this 
15th  day  of  Mav  1720. 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  je  presence  of  us, 

Samuel  Bubtox 
Thomas  Fitchell 

his 

JOHX   I.    M.   M0EI>'E 

mark 

signed — her  A  mark 
AxxE  Eyre 

Probated  14  February  172^;  Vol.  1718-1725  page 
146.    Northampton  Co.,  Virginia  Records. 


1 


WILL  OF  EDWAED  MIFFLIX. 

Accomack,  the  Tth  O'br.,  1740. 

I,  Edward  Mifflin,  of  Accomack  County  in  Vir- 
ginia, considering  Mortality  and  that  its  appointed 
for  man  once  to  die,  and  being  at  this  time  of  a  sound 
and  disposing  mind  and  memory,  do  make,  constitute 
and  ordain  this  to  be  my  last  Will  and  Testament, 
hereby  revoking  and  annuling  all  former  wills  by  me 
made.  Desiring  that  this  only  be  taken  for  my  True 
Last  Will,  in  manner  and  form  following: — 

Imprimis.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son,  Daniel 
Mifflin,  and  his  heirs  forever  my  tract  of  land  where- 
on I  now  live,  lying  on  the  mouth  of  Swans  Gut 
Creek,  with  my  Water  Mill  and  Plantation  in  Mary- 
land. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son,  Samuel 
Mifflin,  and  liis  heirs  forever  my  plantation  and  tract 
of  land  situate  in  the  !N^orthem  Liberties  of  Philadel- 
phia near  Schoolcill  whereon  my  father,  John  ]\Iif- 
flin,  lived,  containing  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son,  Sothey 
Mifflin,  and  liis  heirs  forever,  my  house  and  lot,  lying 
and  being  in  the  High  Street  in  Philadelphia  in  Penn- 
sylvania, situate  near  the  great  Meeting  House. 
Whereas  there  is  a  dispute  with  my  brothers'  and 
sisters'  children  about  part  of  my  above  given  Plan- 
tation near  Philadelphia  which  if  they  recover  their 

207 


208  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

claims  I  desire  tliat  my  son,  Samuel  Mifflin,  may  have 
two  hundred  Pound  in  lieu  of  what  they  recover. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Granddaugh- 
ter, Ann  Eyre,  a  young  negro  woman. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  aU  of  my  estate  amongst 
my  wife  and  three  sons  to  be  equally  divided  among 
them. 

Item.  My  desire  is  that  my  beloved  ^vife,  Mary 
Mifflin,  may  have  her  natural  life  on  Plantation 
whereon  I  now  live  and  likewise  that  she  may  have 
my  Water  Mill  and  Plantation  in  Maryland  during 
her  life  and  also  desire  she  may  have  the  profits  of 
my  house  at  Philadelphia  and  of  my  Plantation  situ- 
ate on  Schoolkill  with  the  appurtenances  thereto  be- 
longing until  my  two  sons,  Samuel  &  Sothey,  come 
to  the  age  of  twenty  years.  I  also  give  to  my  well- 
beloved  wife  my  use  money.  I  desire  that  my  son, 
Daniel  Mifflin,  may  have  his  liberty  to  declare  his 
bequests,  and  take  either  of  his  brothers  bequests  and 
if  he  chooses  either  of  theirs  that  he  chooses  from 
may  have  his. 

Item.  My  will  and  desire  is  that  my  estate  be 
brought  to  no  appraisement. 

Item.  I  desire  that  my  estate  may  not  be  divided 
till  my  son,  Daniel  Mifflin,  comes  of  age  at  21  years. 

Lastly  I  ordain  and  appoint  my  son  Daniel  Mifflin 
and  Joseph  Maxfield  with  my  beloved  wife  Mary  Mif- 
flin mv  sole  executors  and  Executrix  of  this  mv  last 


Earner  Q^ifflin*  209 

Will  and  Testament,  in  witness  thereof  I  have  set  my 
hand  and  seal. 

Edwakd  Mifflin. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered 
in  the  presence  of 
Joseph  M^xj^field. 
John  Walton. 
Jacob  BQeil. 
William  Gore. 

At  a  court  held  31st  May,  1743,  the  above  last  will, 
etc.,  etc.;  (here  follows  the  probate.) 


EXTRACT  FROM  WILL  OF  MARY  MIFFLIN/ 

Mary  Mifflin  mentions  her  son's  (Samuel  Mifflin's) 
two  children,  Edward  and  Mary  Mifflin,  and  her 
grandsons,  Wamer  and  Daniel  Mifflin,  and  great- 
grandson,  Daniel  Nock,  son  of  James  Hsock.  She 
gave  Warner  Mifflin,  her  grandson,  220  lbs.  cur- 
rent money  of  Va.,  and  her  grandson,  Daniel  Mifflin, 
122  lbs.  current  money  of  Va.  Her  great-grand- 
daughter, Mary  Mifflin,  the  daughter  of  Southey  Mif- 
flin, received  a  legacy.  She  gave  a  legacy  to  the 
Monthly  Meeting  at  Little  Creek,  Kent  Co.,  Del. ;  a 
small  legacy  was  left  to  her  great-grandson,  Charles 
Mifflin,  the  son  of  George  Mifflin;  also  to  Ann  Rob- 
ertson, a  small  legacy;  also  to  Stephen  Maxfield  and 
Susannah  Beary  (Berry)  20s.  each  to  buy  a  ring. 
She  also  gave  Mary  Mifflin,  the  daughter  of  Wamer, 
a  second  small  legacy;  also  to  Susannah  Xelson  a  Cow 
and  Calf.  Son  Daniel  and  grandson  Wamer  Mifflin, 
Executors. 


'  Dated  June  18th,  1772.    Probated  March  25th,  1775.    Vol. 
1772  to  1777,  page  312,  Wills,  Accomac  County,  Va.,  Records. 

210 


DEED 

This  Indenture,  made  the  fourth  day  of  the  first 
month,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand,  seven 
hundred  and  eighty  nine,  between  Daniel  iMifiiin  of 
Accomac  County  of  Virginia  and  Mary,  his  wife, 
Warner  Mifflin  of  Kent  County  on  Delaware  and 
Anne,  his  wife,  all  of  the  one  part,  and  John  Wethred 
of  Xew  Castle  Cotmty  of  the  Delaware  State,  of  the 
other  part.  Whereas  it  appears  that  five  hundred 
acres  or  thereabouts,  part  of  a  large  tract  of  twelve 
himdred  acres,  formerly  granted  unto  a  certain 
Charles  James,  called  Drayton,  did  by  divers  ways 
and  means  become  the  property  of  Joseph  Warner, 
formerly  of  Kent  County  in  Maryland,  who  being  so 
possessed,  died  having  only  one  child  (his  heiress) 
named  Mary  Warner,  who  died  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  October  Anno  Domini,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  thirty  seven,  obtain  a  warrant  to  resur- 
vey  her  said  part  of  said  tract  called  "  Drayton,"  and 
include  the  surplusage  lands,  and  add  what  vacancy 
should  lay  contiguous  thereto,  by  virtue  whereof  the 
farm  was  resurveyed  and  found  to  contain  six  hun- 
dred and  two  acres,  and  agreeable  thereto  confirmed 
to  the  said  Mary  by  patent  dat€d  November  ye  sev- 
enth, Anno  Domini,  seventeen  hundred  and  forty- 
one,  as  by  the  farm  reference  thereunto  had  may  ap- 
pear and  whereas  the  said  Mary  Warner  did  inter- 

211 


212  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

marry  with  the  above  named  Daniel  Mifflin,  bv  whom 
she  left  issue  the  above  named  Warner  Mifflin,  her 
eldest  son  and  heir  at  law:  and  whereas  it  is  hereby 
intended  to  grant  and  convey  unto  the  said  John 
Wethrcd,  a  certain  peice  or  parcel  of  the  aforesaid 
resurvey  called  "  Warner's  part  of  Drayton,"  includ- 
ing a  grist  and  saw  mill  with  some  other  small  im- 
provements adjoining  thereto  a  part  of  which  hath 
also  been  heretofore  claimed  by  the  said  Daniel  Mif- 
flin as  bis  own  property,  by  virtue  of  a  purchase  by 
him  made  from  George  Rasin,  by  Deed  dated  April 
22,  1753,  and  being  now  found  within  the  bounds  of 
the  said  Warner's  part  of  Drayton,  which  is  solely  the 
property  of  the  said  Warner  Mifflin,  the  said  Daniel 
and  Anne,  his  wife,  to  prevent  any  future  disputes 
and  contentions  that  might  arise  respecting  the 
proper  right  and  title  thereto,  have  herein  joined  with 
the  said  Warner  Mifflin  and  Anne,  his  wife,  to  con- 
vey the  said  part  unto  the  said  John  Wethred  and 
to  his  heirs  forever,  which  is  bounded  and  limited  as 
follows,  viz: — beginning  at  a  stone  by  the  stump  of 
a  white  oak  Comor,  south  side  of  the  edge  of  Chum 
Creek  (below  the  mill)  the  comer  also  of  a  part  of 
the  said  tract  conveyed  by  the  said  Wanier  Mifflin 
and  his  former  wife,  to  the  aforesaid  John  Wethred, 
thence  with  a  line  thereof  south-west  five  perches  to 
the  run  or  stream  of  said  Chum  Creek,  thence  south 
fifty  one  degrees,  east  thirty-eight  perches  to  the 
south  side  of  the  mill-pond  to  the  Bank  or  Hill  at  the 


COatnet  ^itain,  213 

southern  end  of  the  mill-dam  with  liberty  to  take  dirt 
from  said  Hill  and  accommodate  the  dam  out  of  said 
Hill  forever.  Thence  up  the  side  of  the  pond  binding 
with  the  edge  thereof  as  follows,  viz: — south  sixtv- 
two  degrees,  east  ten  perches,  south  fifty-two  degrees, 
east  six  perches,  south  five  degrees,  west  seven 
perches,  south  sixty-seven  degTees,  east  seven  perches, 
north-east  five  perches,  south  twenty-six  degrees, 
east  twenty-four  and  a  half  perches,  south-east 
eighteen  perches,  south  six  perches  to  the  outside  line 
of  the  whole  tract,  then  with  the  said  line  or  part 
thereof  reversing  south  forty-seven  and  one  half  de- 
grees, east  two  perches  and  six-tenths  of  a  perch,  then 
south  eighty-six  degrees,  east  thirty-nine  perches, 
north-east  thirteen  perches  to  the  north  side  binding 
with  the  said  part  conveyed  to  John  Wethred  by  the 
said  Warner  Mifflin,  down  the  mill  pond  still  adjoin- 
ing the  aforesaid  land  sold;  now  uniting  the  whole 
together  unto  the  beginning  containing  sixteen  acres 
and  one  hundred  and  thirty  square  perches  of  land 
and  mill  pond. 

Xow  this  Indenture  witnesseth  that  the  said  Daniel 
Mifflin  and  Anne  his  wife,  Warner  Mifflin  and  xinne 
his  wife,  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  just  and  full 
sum  of  four  hundred  pounds  good  and  lawful  money 
(being  specie)  to  them  in  hand  paid  by  the  said 
John ,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowl- 
edged by  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  and  Anne,  his  wife, 
and  Warner  Mifflin  and  Anne,  his  wife,  and  them- 


214  Life  anD  ancestrp  of 

selves,  therewith  fully  satisfied,  contented  and  paid, 
have  granted,  bargained,  sold,  released,  entitled  and 
confirmed,  and  do  by  these  presents  grant,  bargain, 

sell,  confirm  unto  him,  the  said  John  ,  his 

heirs  and  assigns  forever,  all  the  above  described 
tract,  piece  or  part  of  Drayton,  together  with  the 
mills  and  other  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging, 
with  all  and  singular  the  buildings,  improvements, 
waters,  water  courses  and  writings  and  appurtenances 
and  the  reversion  and  reversions,  remainder  and  re- 
mainders unto and  profits  thereof,  and  all  the 

estate,  title,  interest,  property,  claim  and  demand  of 
them,  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  and  Anne  his  wife  and 
Warner  Mifiiin  and  Anne  his  wife,  in  law,  equity  or 
otherwise  whatsoever  of  in  and  to  the  saw  mill  and 
land  and  pond  wath  every  other  the  appurtenance  to 
the  same  belonging. 

To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  land  and  premises, 
together  with  the  said  mills  with  every  other  the  ap- 
purtenances to  the  farm  belonging  hereby  granted 
unto  the  said  John  Wethred  and  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever.  And  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin  and  Anne  his 
wife,  and  Warner  Mifflin  and  Anne  his  ^vife,  and 
their  heirs,  the  land  and  premises  together  with  the 
said  mill  and  other  appurtenances  hereby  granted 
unto  the  said  John  Wethred  as  if  against  themselves, 
the  said  Daniel  ^Mifflin  and  Anne  his  wife,  and  War- 
ner Mifflin  and  Anne  his  wife,  and  their  heirs,  and 
against  all  and  every  person  or  persons  claiming  or 


mntntt  Witdin*  215 

hereafter  law'fuUj  to  claim  from  or  under  them  or 
either  of  them,  shall  and  will  warrant  and  forever 
defend  by  these  presents. 

This  Deed  is  now  given,  made  over  and  executed 
in  consequence  of  a  Bond  given  to  John  Wethred  and 
John  Buchannan  by  Warner  Mifflin  for  the  aforesaid 
property,  which  Bond  John  Wethred  has  made  his 
own  property  by  taking  assignment  from  Buckannan 
and  paying  the  full  considerations,  money;  said  Bond 
bore  date  of  thirty-first  day  of  August  seventeen  hun- 
dred and  seventy. 

In  witness  whereof  they,  the  said  Daniel  Mifflin 
and  Mary  his  wife,  Warner  Mifflin  and  Anne  his  wife, 
have  hereunto  set  their  hands  and  fixed  their  seals 
the  year  and  day  first  above  written.  Be  it  known 
that  the  words  Warner  Mifflin  of  Kent  County  on 
Delaware  and  Anne  his  wife  all  was  wrote  before  the 
first  hne,  and  sixty  was  interlined  between  the  twelfth 
and  thirteenth  line  of  this  Deed  before  it  was  exe- 
cuted. 

Daniel  Mifflin  Waener  Mifflin 

Mary  Mifflin  Anne  Mifflin 

Sealed  and  delivered  in 
the  presence  of; 
John  Selby 
Otttlis  Stitrgis 

Received  of  the  above  named  John  Wethred  the 
sum  of  four  hundred  pounds  specie,  being  the  con- 


216  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

sideration   money   above   mentioned.      Witness   our 
hands  the  day  and  year  first  above  mentioned. 

Warner  Mifflin 

Witness  Present — John  Selby 

OuTLis  Sturgis 

Maryland,  St.  Be  it  remembered  that  on  the  day 
and  year  first  within  written,  personally  appeared 
before  me  the  subscriber  two  of  the  State  Justices  of 
the  Peace  for  Worcester  County,  the  within  named 
Daniel  Mifilin  and  Warner  Mifilin,  at  the  same  time 
came  Mary  Mifflin,  wife  of  the  said  Daniel  and  Anne 
Mifflin  wife  of  the  said  Warner  !Mifflin,  and  they  each 
of  them  being  severally  examined  privately  and  apart 
and  out  of  the  hearing  of  their  said  husbands,  agree- 
able to  an  act  of  Assembly  in  that  case  made  and  pro- 
vided: and  they  and  each  of  them  acknowledged  the 
lands  and  premise  contained  in  the  within  deed  to  be 
the  right  and  title  of  the  within  named  John  Weth- 
red  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  agreeable  to  the 
true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  within  deed  and 
according  to  law. 

Before  John  Selby 

OuTLis  Sturgis. 

In  the  State  of  Maryalnd, 
Worcester  County,  to  wit: — 

I  hereby  certify  that  John  Selby  and  Outlis  Stur- 
gis, gentlemen  before  whom  the  foregoing  deed  was 


Wntmt  9^imin,  217 

acknowledged  was  at  the  time  of  acknowledging  the 
same  and  still  are  two  of  the  justices  of  the  peace 
assigned  to  keep  in  and  for  the  county  of,  hereby 
commissioned  and  sworn  and  as  such  due  faith  and 
credit  ought  to  be  given  to  all  certificates  by  them 
given  as  well  as  in  Court  of  Justice  as  thereont. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereto  set  my  hand 
and  affixed  the  seal  of  my  office  the  3rd  day  of  May, 
Anno  Domini,  1790. 

jAii  R.  Morris,  Ck.  Cur.  Court — Wor. 

May  the  fifth  day  Anno  Domini  Seventeen  hun- 
dred and  ninety. 

Then  was  delivered  unto  me,  the  subscriber,  the 
foregoing  deed  in  order  to  be  enrolled  among  the 
records  of  Worcester  County,  which  said  deed 
together  with  the  acknowledgment  thereof,  receipt 
and  certificate  to  thereon  endorsed,  are  accordingly 
recorded  in  Liber  N,  folio  254;  255;  256;  and  257. 

Jam  R.  Morris,  Clk. 


WILL  OF  DAXIEL  MIFFLLN^. 

I,  Daniel  Miiflin,  of  the  County  of  Accomack,  in 
the  State  of  Virginia,  being  sick  and  weak  of  body 
but  of  sound  and  disposing  mind  and  memory,  do 
make  and  ordain  this  my  Last  Will  and  Testament, 
hereby  revoking  and  making  void  all  former  wills  by 
me  made. 

Imprimis.  It  is  my  will  that  all  my  just  debts 
should  first  be  honestly  paid. 

Item.  Inasmuch  as  I  have  heretofore  sold  unto 
Levin  Hickman  thirty  acres  of  land  on  Assateague 
beach  as  hereafter  described,  and  he  having  paid  me 
for  the  same  and  got  neither  Bond  nor  Deed  of  Con- 
veyance therefore,  wherefore  to  supply  said  deficien- 
cies I  give  and  bequeath  unto  the  said  Levin  Hick- 
man the  aforesaid  thirty  acres  of  land,  it  being  part  of 
a  large  tract  of  land  which  I  bought  of  Thomas  Gore 
beginning  at  John  Lewises  Line,  and  binding  with  the 
same  to  the  sand  Hills,  thence  to  run  so  far  down  said 
Island  between  the  sand  Hills  and  Assateague  Inlet 
High  Water  Mark  as  with  a  direct  line  drawn  across 
the  Island  to  the  sand  hills  will  include  the  said 
thirty  acres  of  land,  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever. 

Item.  In  like  manner  as  above,  I  have  sold  unto 
John  Lewis  and  Arthur  Cherix  eighty  acres  of  land 
from  the  same  tract  as  above,  and  they  having  in  part 

218 


maxmt  Mifflin*  219 

paid  me  the  same  and  have  got  neither  deed  nor  bond 
of  Conveyance  therefore,  wherefore  I  give  and  be- 
queath unto  the  said  John  Lewis  and  Arthur  Cherix 
eighty  acres  of  land  as  aforesaid,  being  part  of  the 
same  tract.  I  bought  of  Thomas  Gore,  reserving  to 
myself  fifty-three  acres  binding  on  Levin  Hickman's 
land  noted  as  above,  and  to  run  dovm  to  the  Island 
between  the  sand  hills  and  the  Inlet  High  "Water 
Mark  so  far  as  to  include  the  aforesaid  fifty  three 
acres,  after  reserving  to  myself  all  the  cedar  timber 
that  may  be  on  the  same,  I  give  and  bequeath  unto 
the  said  John  Lewis  and  Arthur  Cherix,  their  heirs 
and  assigns  forever,  provided  they  pay  to  my  execu- 
tors herafter  to  be  named  the  balance  due  me  for 
said  eighty  acres,  as  may  appear  in  an  article  between 
us  for  the  same. 

Item.  In  like  manner  as  above,  I  have  sold  unto 
John  Blades  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  as 
surveyed  by  Samuel  Smith,  surveyor,  and  the  man 
with  him,  and  marked  out,  which  said  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  he  has  paid  me  for  and  got  neither 
deed  or  bond  of  Conveyance,  wherefore  I  give  and 
bequeath  unto  the  said  John  Blades  the  one  hundred 
and  fifty  five  acres  of  aforesaid,  being  part  of  two 
tracts  of  land  called  Floyds  Lot,  the  other  Mifilin's 
Purchase,  situate  in  Pitt's  Creek  Hundred  in  Worces- 
ter County,  State  of  Maryland,  to  him,  his  heirs 
and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son  Warner 


220  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

MiflElin  the  sum  of  five  shillings,  which  together  with 
what  he  has  already  had  I  consider  his  full  proportion 
of  my  estate. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son  Daniel  Mif- 
flin, the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds,  which  together 
with  what  he  already  has  had  I  consider  his  full  pro- 
portion, which  said  two  hundred  pounds  is  finally  to 
settle  all  accounts  between  us  if  any  there  be. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  grandson, 
Jonathan  Walker  Mifilin,  the  simi  of  one  hundred 
poimds  to  be  paid  him  when  he  arrives  at  lawful  age 
by  my  executors,  upon  this  express  condition,  how- 
ever, that  he  convey  to  his  aunts  a  right  to  take  a  suf- 
ficiency of  dirt  from  time  to  time  as  may  be  suffi- 
cient to  support  that  part  of  the  dam  of  my  lower 
mill  upon  Swans  gut  adjoining  his  lands,  and  that  he 
also  continue  to  them  the  right  of  joining  that  part 
of  the  dam  to  his  land  aforesaid.  But  if  he  should 
die  before  he  arrives  at  la\vful  age  and  without  law- 
ful issue,  the  hundred  pounds  so  left  to  him  is 
to  be  divided  equally  among  my  grandchildren  then 
Hving.  Inasmuch  as  I  find  it  difficult  to  ascertain 
with  truth  how  much  the  amount  of  my  estate  may 
be,  I  cannot  with  certainty  or  perhaps  equity  say  what 
my  wife's  dower  shall  be,  but  leave  it  with  my  execu- 
tors and  herself  to  agree  upon  the  same,  hoping  that 
both  may  be  governed  by  reason  and  justice,  which 
said  dower  so  ascertained  and  agreed  on  as  aforesaid, 
I    bequeath    unto    my    beloved    wife    during    her 


enarner  Mifflin,  221 

natural  life,  and  at  her  death,  my  \nll  is  that  said 
dower  equally  upon  or  to  my  daughters  Patience 
Hunn,  Elizabeth  Howell,  Eyre  Mifflin  and  Rebecca 
Mifflin,  and  my  granddaughter  Anne  Hunn.  I  give 
and  bequeath  unto  my  daughters  Patience  Hunn, 
Eliz**^  Howell,  Eyre  Mifflin  and  Rebecca  Mifflin,  and 
my  granddaughter  Anne  Hunn  equally,  the  whole  of 
the  remainder  and  immentioned  part  of  both  my  real 
and  personal  estate.  Those  to  whom  I  have  given 
part  heretofore,  viz:  Patience  Hunn,  Eliz^^  Howell 
and  Anne  Hunn,  what  I  have  given  to  her  mother 
Mary  Hunn,  accounting  strictly  for  the  same,  and  to 
be  added  to  what  is  now  given  them  in  common  and 
equal  division  made,  my  granddaughter  Anne 
Hunn's  dividend  or  part  not  to  be  considered  her 
property  until  she  arrives  at  lawful  age,  and  if  she 
should  die  before  she  arrives  at  lawful  age  as  afore- 
said or  without  lawful  issue,  what  I  have  left  her  I 
will  and  bequeath  to  be  divided  equally  among  all  my 
grandchildren  then  living.  It  is  my  desire  and  I  do 
enjoin  it  on  all  my  children,  and  grandcliildren,  Anne 
Hunn  and  Jonathan  Walker  Mifflin,  to  take  care  of 
and  administer  to  the  necessities  and  relief  of  such 
Black  people  as  myself  and  former  wife  Anne  emanu- 
mitted,  and  are  or  may  be  in  circumstances  any  ways 
not  able  to  help  themselves,  according  and  in  propor- 
tion to  what  they  have  received  of  mine  and  my  said 
wife's  Anne  estate. 


222  CQatnet  Q^ifflim 

Then  he  makes  his  sons,  Warner  and  Daniel  Mif- 
flin his  executors.  Dated  22nd  December  1795. 
Probated  April  27,  1796. 

Volume  1794-96,  page  365.    A.  C.  V. 


WILL  OF  WARMER  MLFFLTN". 

Wakner  Mifflin — 

I,  Warner  Mifflin,  of  Kent  County,  State  of  Dela- 
ware, being  of  sound  and  disposing  mind  and  mem- 
ory, at  present  favored  with  a  good  state  of  bodily 
health,  and  expecting  in  a  few  days  to  set  off  to  attend 
our  yearly  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  that  City  being 
at  this  time  visited  with  an  epedemic  disorder  of 
which  great  numbers  dye,  by  accounts  received,  and 
great  part  of  the  inhabitants  in  consequence  thereof 
have  left  the  City.  It  feels  awful  to  undertake  this 
journey,  but  believing  it  my  duty  to  proceed  therein, 
having  nothing  in  view  but  to  be  found  in  the  dis- 
charge thereof  to  him  who  gave  me  a  being,  and  who 
I  have  faith  to  believe  can  preserve  me  even  amidst 
the  raging  pestilence,  if  he  is  so  pleased  to  do,  how- 
ever, I  desire  to  be  resigned  to  his  holy  will  therein, 
as  I  believe  it  my  duty  to  be:  do  therefore  proceed 
in  this  manner  to  dispose  of  my  temporal  concerns  in 
the  best  manner  I  am  at  present  capable,  hereby  de- 
clare in  this  to  be  my  last  vdll  and  testament  as 
follows; — 

Imprimis.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  vdie, 
Ann  Mifflin,  all  the  money  owing  and  payable  unto 
me  on  Bond  note,  for  rent  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
and  adjacent  thereto,  being  part  of  her  maiden  prop- 
erty, which  said  bonds,  etc.  now  alluded  to  are  in  pos- 

223 


224  Life  anD  3ncesttp  of 

session  of  her  mother,  Anne  Emelin,  amounting  the 
principal,  interest  and  rent,  to  near  two  thousand 
pounds  including  sixteen  hundred  pounds  I  settled 
on  her  by  a  deed  of  trust  legally  executed  and  now  in 
the  hands  of  her  brother,  James  Emelin,  one  of  the 
Trustees  therein  named:  some  of  those  Bonds  and 
notes  are  in  my  said  wife's  own  maiden  name,  others 
in  mine.  I  also  give  and  bequeath  to  my  said  beloved 
wife  all  the  household  furniture  that  came  by  her  of 
every  kind  that  can  be  found,  also  my  best  rideing 
carriage  and  her  choice  of  the  horses  for  a  carriage 
horse,  two  work  horses,  one  plow  and  harrow  with 
their  appurtenances,  the  best  I  have,  six  cows,  her 
choice  out  of  my  whole  stock  for  milk,  a  good  yoke 
of  oxen  and  oxcart;  likewise  three  of  my  best  beds 
and  appurtenances  to  them  belonging.  I  also  give 
and  bequeath  unto  my  beloved  wife  that  part  of  my 
mansion  plantation  to  be  divided  from  the  other  part 
by  a  line  beginning  near  the  bridge  by  Dr.  McKees 
fence,  so  as  to  leave  some  of  the  turn  of  the  low 
ground  for  a  watering  place  to  my  children's  field, 
next  the  county  road,  then  to  run  so  as  to  include  all 
the  low  ground  to  my  wife's  part  within  my  planta- 
tion fence,  as  the  same  now  runs  through  the 
branch,  on  the  line  between  me  and  the  heirs  of  John 
Banning,  where  Willes  now  lives,  from  the  line  afore- 
said, the  line  of  Banning's  land  aforesaid  to  Tidbury 
branch  with  said  branch  and  the  State  road,  as  to 
include  all  the  land  I  hold  of  the  tract  called  Gains- 


COatner  Mifflin,  225 

borough,  together  with  the  houses,  buildings,  appur- 
tenances to  my  said  wife  for  and  during  her  natural 
life. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  son 
Samuel  E.  Mifflin  the  above  devise  tract  of  land  de- 
vised his  mother  after  her  decease,  according  to  the 
above  described  metes  and  bounds  to  him,  his  heirs, 
and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  son  Lemuel 
Mifflin  my  marsh  plantation  in  Little  Creek  adjoin- 
ing lands  of  George  Buck  and  Garrett  Sipple,  said  to 
contain  three  himdred  acres  of  upland,  with  the  whole 
of  my  marsh  thereto  adjoining,  to  him  my  beloved 
son,  Lemuel  Mifflin,  to  be  possessed  and  enjoyed 
when  he  shall  arrive  to  twenty-one  years  of  age,  to  be 
holden  from  thence  forward  to  him  and  his  heirs  for- 
ever. The  use  and  benefit  of  my  said  plantation  now 
devised  to  my  son  Lemuel,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my 
beloved  wife  till  he  my  said  son  shall  arrive  to  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  out  of  which  she  is  to  raise  and 
school  my  said  son. 

Item,  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  beloved  wife 
twenty  acres  of  meadow  ground  on  cow  marsh  to  be 
laid  off  where  I  have  been  clearing  and  ten  acres  of 
contageous  woodland  for  timber  to  fence  the  same, 
for  and  during  her  natural  life. 

Item.  I  give  and  bequeath  all  the  residue  of  my 
land  at  Cow  Marsh  on  the  side  of  the  public  road  that 
John  Keys  lives,  including  the  plantation  said  Keys 


226  Life  anD  ancesttp  of 

lives  on,  as  also  one  hundred  and  eight  and  half  acres 
of  land  that  I  have  purchased  in  company  with  mv 
brother,  Daniel  Mifflin  and  Jonathan  Hunn  from 
Aron  Oakford,  my  half  being  the  quantity  for  which 
there  is  not  a  deed  to  us  as  yet  from  Oakford,  tho'  I 
have  the  legal  title  vested  to  me  by  a  former  deed,  in 
which  this  land  is  included.  This  last  described  land 
I  give  unto  my  son  Samuel,  provided  my  beloved  wife 
pays  the  remainder  of  the  purchase  money,  my  part 
to  Aron  Oakford,  to  be  my  son  Samuel  Emlin  Mif- 
flin's on  his  arrival  to  twenty-one  years  of  age  (his 
mother,  my  beloved  wife,  to  have  the  rents  and 
profits  till  he  my  said  son  shall  arrive  to  twenty-one 
years  of  age)  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

Item.  I  also  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  said  son 
Lemuel  at  his  mother's  death  the  twenty  acres  of 
meadow  ground  and  ten  acres  of  woodland  adjoining, 
to  him  and  his  heirs  forever. 

Item.  The  residue  and  remainder  of  my  estate 
both  real  and  personal  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my 
children  by  my  first  wife,  to  witt,  Warner  Mifilin, 
Elizabeth  Cowgill,  Ann  Rasin,  Susanna  Mifflin  and 
Sarah  Mifflin  in  equal  portions  share  and  share  alike, 
counting  the  several  sums  that  I  have  paid  to  my  two 
son-in-laws,  Clayton  Cowgill  and  Warner  Raisin,  as 
by  my  books  will  appear;  the  other  children  to  have 
all  made  up  equal  to  what  my  daughter  Elizabeth 
hath  received  by  her  husband  as  aforesaid,  then  to  be 
eouallv  divided  the  residue  to  them  share  and  share 


K3arner  Q^ifaiiu  227 

alike — by  this  is  intended  all  the  lands  that  I  have 
in  possession  not  only  in  my  own  right,  but  such  as  I 
hold  in  the  right  of  my  first  wife;  the  whole  of  the 
lands  I  hold  in  Marshyhope  is  in  my  own  right  and 
those  at  the  manor,  also  the  last  I  had  valued,  intend- 
ing to  pay  my  children  the  value,  but  by  this  will  I  do 
give  the  whole  among  them,  and  enjoin  that  they  shall 
stand  by  this  my  will,  and  convey  by  release  each  to 
the  other  as  they  come  of  la^vful  age,  that  the  di^-ision 
when  made  shall  be  fully  confirmed,  and  I  do  hereby 
nominate  my  beloved  brother  Daniel  Mifilin  and  my 
brother-in-law  Jonathan  Hunn  and  Samuel  Howell, 
or  any  two  of  them,  to  make  all  the  divisions  among 
my  said  children  that  I  have  directed  by  this  will, 
and  to  lay  off  the  meadow  ground  and  upland  to  my 
wife  at  cow  marsh. 

Item.  My  will  and  desire  is  that  if  my  beloved 
wife  should  be  pregnant  at  this  time,  or  any  time 
during  my  life,  that  such  issue  male  or  female,  and  to 
this,  I  give  and  bequeath  the  whole  of  the  land  at  cow 
marsh  devised  to  my  son  Samuel  Emlin  Mifflin,  except 
the  thirty  acres  devised  to  his  mother  for  life,  to  such 
issue  of  my  said  wife,  as  also  the  plantation  on  the 
other  side  of  cow  marsh  lately  purchased  of  George 
Cummins  when  such  issue  shall  arrive  to  lawful  age, 
to  be  possessed  thereof  their  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever; the  rents  and  profits  thereof  to  be  the  right  of 
my  beloved  wife  till  such  lawful  age,  and  further  it 
is  mv  will  and  desire  that  a  further  sum  of  four  hun- 


228  Watmt  QPifain. 

dred  pounds  shall  within  four  years  next  after  my 
decease  be  paid  by  my  executors  hereafter  named  out 
of  the  estates  of  my  five  children  residuary  Legatees 
as  aforementioned,  that  is  to  say,  one  hundred  pounds 
per  year  into  the  hands  of  my  beloved  wife,  to  and 
for  the  use  of  such  issue  should  any  such  be,  to  be 
paid  to  such  issue  when  of  lawful  age. 

State  of  Delaware  ] 

V  ss. 
Kent  County  J 

Personally  appeared  Daniel  Mifilin  and  Jonathan 
Hunn  and  Samuel  Howell  before  me  the  subscriber 
who  being  respectively  affirmed  do  say  that  the  within 
and  foregoing  instrument  of  writing,  said  to  be  the 
last  will  of  Warner  Mifflin,  dec'd,  is  in  the  proper 
handwrit  of  the  said  Warner  Mifflin  dec'd,  in  testi- 
mony whereof  I  have  hereto  set  my  hand  this  17th 
day  of  January  A.  D.  1799. 

John  Laws,  Register. 


extract  from  the  will  of  axxe 
e:mlex  mifflds'.^ 

Anne  Emlen  Mifflin's  \\i\\  was  dated  1811,  and  let- 
ters of  administration  with  the  will  annexed  were 
issued  to  her  son  Lemuel,  12  April,  1815,  with 
Samuel  E.  Howell  and  Joshua  Emlen  as  securities. 
There  were  bequests  to  her  sons,  Samuel  E.  and 
Lemuel. 

' "  Memoranda  of  the  Mifflin  Family,"  by  J.  H.  Merrill,  p.  49. 


A  NOTE  OX  THE  MIFFLIX  HOMESTEADS. 

The  Mifflin  homestead,  called  "  Fountain  Green," 
founded  by  John  Mifflin  the  emigrant,  was  situated 
in  Fairmount  Park,  in  the  ravine  below  and  to  the 
west  of  where  now  stands  the  Smith  Memorial  Chil- 
dren's Playhouse,  and  to  the  east  of  the  Benedict 
Arnold  house.  A  guard  in  the  employ  of  the  Park 
for  over  twenty  years  remembered  seeing  the  house 
in  1871,  and  described  it  as  a  large  house,  with  pil- 
lars supporting  the  front  porch.  All  that  now  marks 
the  site  is  the  spring  in  the  rear  of  the  house  and  the 
stumps  of  two  giant  chestnut  trees  that  stood  in  front 
of  the  house. 

"  Pharsalia,"  in  Accomac  Co.,  Virginia,  is  still 
standing,  and  is  described  by  a  recent  visitor  (1903) 
as  having  been  a  fine  house  in  its  day.  The  planta- 
tion, which  was  an  extensive  one,  is  near  Franklin 
City,  and  commands  a  good  view  of  Chincoteague 
Bay  and  Island. 

"Chestnut  Grove,"  near  Camden,  Delaware,  is 
still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  is  little 
changed,  except  that  the  old  nursery  back  of  the  par- 
lor is  used  as  a  store-room,  and  the  window  has  been 
closed  that  once  looked  from  Warner  Mifflin's  study 
into  the  outer  kitchen.  The  chestnut  trees  that  gave 
the  place  its  name  have  all  died  or  been  cut  down,  and 

229 


230  COarner  Mifflin* 

only  an  old  pear  tree  and  some  box  remain  of  the 
original  planting. 

Through,  the  interest  of  Warner  Mifflin's  descend-  ■ 

ants  the  fence  surrounding  the  now  abandoned  Mur- 
therkill,  or  Motherkill,  Burying  Ground  has  been 
replaced  (1904),  and  a  stone  bearing  the  following- 
inscription  placed  within  the  lot: 

MOTHEEKILL   BUEYIXG   GROIIXD 

WITHIN  THIS  ENCLOSTJBE 

AEE  IXTEREED  THE  EEMAIXS 

OF 

WAEXER  MIFFLIN 

FRIEND,  PHILAXTHEOPIST,  PATRIOT. 

BORN    AUGUST    21ST,    1745. 

DIED  OCTOBER   16tH,   1798. 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Acton,  Margaret  (m.  Griscom)     20 
Akarman,  John,  Sr.  and  Jr...     24 

Alison,  Samuel  170 

Allen,  John  127 

Allston,  Israel 145,  16G 

Allston,  John, 145 

Anderson,  Cecilia  (m.  Neall) . .     19 

Anderson,  James  19 

Andros,  Governor 25 

Armitt,   Sarah    {m.    (1)    Pow- 
ell),  (2)   Mifflin)    14 

Atkinson,  Eachael 137 

Bacon,  David   199 

Baker,  Daniel 11,  12 

Baker,  Susanna  (m.  (1)  Eyre, 
(2)  Potts,  (3)  Kendall)   ....     11 

Balfour,  Colonel  46,  47 

Banning,  John   224 

Barratt,  Eliza 137 

Barratt,   Lydia    137 

Bartlett,  Hannah 133 

Bavist,  Benjamin 135 

Benezet,  Anthony    59,   167 

Berry,  Mary    107,  108 

Berry,  Susannah   210 

Berry,  Thomas 18,  137,  157 

Bidd'le,  Owen 177 

Birckhead,  Christo 131 

Birkhead,   Solom 131 

Blades,  John 219 

Bodien,  Hannah 133 

Bodien,  Henry   133 

Bowers,  John 139,  151,  153,  166 


Bowers,  Thos 133 

Bowman,  Elizabeth 143 

Bowne,  George 167 

Brady,  Ann 137 

Brinson,  Daniel  25 

Brock,  Ralph    135 

Brown,  Morgan,  Jr 133 

Brown,  William 158,  164 

Buchannan,  John 215 

Buck,  George   225 

Buckinham,  Howel   133 

Budd,  John 25 

Burton,  Samuel  206 

Byrnes,  Daniel 167 

Canby,  Samuel 69 

Chambers,  Rebeekah   141,  144 

Chance,  Batchelder 137 

Chase,  Joshua  Coffin 21 

Cherix,  Arthur 218,  219 

"  Chestnut  Grove,"  ....  16,  38,  229 
Chew,    Elizabeth    Benson    (m. 

Johns)     17 

Churchman,   George    72, 

170,  177,  198 

Clark,  Benjamin 167 

Clark,  William 25 

Clarkson,  Thomas  39 

Clayton,  Sarah   135,  137 

Clift,  Samuel 25 

Coale,  Ann  (m.  Warner)  15 

Cole,  Edward   116 

Colebrookdale  Furnace  13 


234 


INDEX. 


Coombe,  Nathaniel 137 

Cooper,  David 167 

Corbit,  Israel   151 

Corbit,  William   151 

Corderj-,  Deborali  (?)   13 

Corderj',  Esther  (m.  Mifflin) .  .  13 

Cordery,  Hugh  13 

Corse,  Isaac   133 

Corse,  Mary   133 

Corse,  Michl   133 

Coston,  Ezekiel 69,  70 

Cowgill,  Clay  ton..  18,  109,  137,  226 

Cowgill,  Elizabeth 166 

Cowgill,  Ezekiel    135,  143, 

144,   145,  148,  149 151 

Cowgill,  John  109,  139, 

143,   145   151 

Cowgill,  John,  Jr 137 

Cox,  John   177 

Cox,  Susannah  166 

Cresson,  James   170 

Crew,  John  133 

Cummins,  George   227 

Daniel,  Elizabeth 135 

Dickenson,  Saml 131 

Dickenson,  Walter   131 

Dickenson,  Wm 133 

Dickinson,  Hannah  131 

Dickinson,  Jno 104,  131,  140 

Dickinson,  Judith   131 

Dickinson,  Nancy    133 

Dickinson,  Eebecca 131 

Dickinson,  Robert,  Jr 131 

Dillwyn,  George 167 

Dolby,  John 137 

Dolby,   Sarah    137 

Dolby,  Susan 137 


Dolby,  William 137 

Drinker,  Henry 170,  198,  199 

Drinker,  John 170,  198 

Duncan,  George 129,  133 

Dunlap,  John   36 

Edmondson,  Solomon 131 

Edmondson,  Susannah  137 

Edmondson,  William   131 

Emlen,  Ann  (?)    17,  224 

Emlen,  Ann  {m.  Mifflin) ....  16, 

152,  211-217,  223,  225 228 

Emlen,  George  17 

Emlen,  James 224 

Emlen,  Joshua   228 

Emlen,  Samuel 158,  170 

Emlen,  Samuel,  Jr 164 

Evans,  David   167 

Evans,  John  177 

Evans,  Jonathan 199,  202 

Evans,  Rebecca  (m.  Mifflin)..     14 

Eyre,  Ann  208 

Eyre,  Daniel 10-12,  204,  205 

Eyre,  Hall 12 

Eyre,  John 11,  12 

Eyre,  Mary  (m.  (1)  Littleton, 

(2)  Mifflin)    10,  114, 

203,  204,  208  210 

Eyre,  Thomas  (I.)   11 

Eyre,  Tliomas  (II.)    11,  12 

Eyre,    Thomas     (grandson   of 

Ann)    203 

Fariss  (Ferris?),  John 107 

Farson,  Jane 135 

Farson,  William    135 

Ferris,  Zccah 135 

"Fountain  Green" 9,  13, 

14,  26,  28-31    229 


INDEX. 


235 


Fisher,  Alice  166 

Fisher,  Fenwick   135,  139 

Fisher,  Grace  135 

Fitchell,  Thomas  206 

Galloway,  Susanna  {m.  Johns)     16 

Garshick,  John 131 

Gay,  Ebenezer  20 

Gay,  Martha  Stone 22 

Gay,  Martin  22 

Gay,  Mary  Otis  (m.  Willcox) .     22 

Gay,  Sarah  Mifflin   22,  38 

Gay,  Sidney  Howard 20 

Gay,  Walter  Otis 22 

George,  Ann 137 

George,  John   137 

Gibbons,  Abraham   . .  170,  177,  199 

"Golden  Quarter"   11,  12 

Goodenow,  Annie  {tn.  Willcox)     22 

Gore,  Thomas 218 

Gore,  William 209 

Gorse,  Israel  157 

Griscom,     Hannah     Woodnut 

(w.  Neall)    20 

Griscom,  Dr.  John  D 20 

Haines,  Caspar  W 106 

Hammon,  Mary   135 

Hand,  James 137 

Hann,  Jonathan   153,  157 

Hann,  Patience    157 

Hanson,   Samuel    135 

Hanson,  Thomas   138 

Hanson,  Timothy  135,  137 

Hardcastle,  Elizabeth    137 

Hardcastle,  Philip 137 

Hardy,  Elizabeth   (m.  Mifflin) 

9.  31,  32  34 

Harrison,  Rachel 131 


Hartshorne,  Richard 199 

Heaverlon,  Daniel 146 

Heil,  Jacob  209 

Hickman,  Levin   218,  219 

Holiday,  Ann   141 

Holland,  Nehemiah 127 

Holliday,  Robert 148,  151 

Hoops,  Esther   141 

Hosier,  Mary   133 

Hoskins,  John 107,  199 

Hoskins,  Robert   25 

Howe,  General  Sir  William,  40, 

46-55,  64,  73,  74,  158,  162.  ..  .  163 
Howell,  Deborah  (m.  Mifflin).     17 

Howell,  Elizabeth  137 

HoweU,  Isaac  135 

Howell,  Samuel  ...  18,  149,  227,  228 

Howell,  Susanna   131 

Howland,  Joseph  G 137 

Hull,  David 133 

Hunn,  Anne   221 

Hium,  Ezek 137 

Himn,  Jonathan    137,   141 

Hunn,  Jonathan,  Jr.  ...  18,  22G-228 

Hunn,  Patience  137 

Hunt,  John  199 

Husband,  Joseph 15 

Jackson,  Isaac 141,  161 

Jackson,  William 144 

Jackson,  William,  Jr 141 

James,  Charles 211 

Janney,  Jacob   139 

JefTerys,  Sarah  (m.  Robinson)     14 

Jenkins,  Hannah  135 

Jenkins,  Jabez  133 

Jenkins,  Jabez   (son  of  Timo- 

othy)    145 


236 


INDEX. 


Jenkins,  Jonathan 137 

Jenkins,  Joseph   112,  11(3. 

128,   148    149 

Jenkins,  Thomas  137 

Johns,   Elizabeth    (m.   Mifflin) 

16,  17,  39,  57  138 

Johns,  Jacob 133 

Johns,  Kinsey  (I.)   17 

Johns,  Kinsey  (II.)    16,  69 

Johns,  Richard 17 

Jones,  Griffith    133 

Jones,  Mary 133 

Justice,  Cecilia 21 

Justice,  Hilda  21 

Justice,  Mary  Cook     {m.    (1) 

Lee,  (2)  Chase)    21 

Justice,  Theodore    20 

Lee,  Benjamin   22 

Justice,  William  Warner  21 

Justice,  William  Wirt  20 

Kellee,  James 129 

Kendall,  Mary   11 

Kendall,  Lieut.-Col.  Wm 11,  12 

Kendall,  William,  Jr 11 

Kennard,  Phillip  131 

Kennard,  Sarah,  Sr 133 

Kensey,  Elizabeth  {m.  Johns) .     17 

Keys,  John   225 

Kirkbride,  Robert  167 

Knipbausen,  General   163 

Kuper,    Charlotte     (m.     Wal- 

baum)   20 

Lamb,  Joshua 133 

Laurance,  Benj 131 

Laws,  Elizabeth  (m.  Mifflin)  .  .      19 

Laws,  John  228 

Lay,  Baptist  121,  125,  151 

Lay,  Philenia  141 


Lee,  Leighton  (I.)   21 

Ijee,  Leighton  (II.)    22 

Lee,  Philip  Leighton 22 

Lee,  William  Justice   22 

Lewis,  Henry  32 

Lewis,  John  218,  219 

Lightfoot,  Thos.,  Jr 135 

Lindley,  Jacob.  .  .167,  170,  198,  199 

Littleton,  Southey    10 

Lowles,  Michael 137 

Lucas,  Robert  and  John 25 

Luff,  Lydia   137 

Limdy,  Jacob  72 

McKay,  Alexander   141 

McKee,  Dr 224 

Mason,  Benjamin 170,  177 

Mattarris,   (?)    133 

Maxfield,  Joseph 133,  208,  209 

Maxfield,  Stephen  210 

Mifflin,  Ann 137 

Mifflin,  Ann   (IV.)    16,  36,  203,  204 

Mifflin,  Ann  (V.-l)    17 

Mifflin,  Ann  (V.-2)    17 

Mifflin,  Ann  (VI.)   (m.  Raisin) 

18,  226 

Mifflin,  Ann  H 137 

Mifflin,  Benjamin 36 

Mifflin,  Charles 36,  210 

Mifflin,  Daniel  (IV.)  ...15,  16, 
36,  38,  69,  112,  114,  117,  121, 
122,    125-128,    143,    145,    166, 

207,  208,   210-217 

Mifflin,  Daniel  (V.) 17, 

125-127,    154,    155,   210,   220, 

222, 226-228 

Mifflin,  Daniel,  Jr 137 

Mifflin,  Debbv    137 


IXDEX. 


237 


Mifflin,  Edward  (III.)   10, 

35,  36,  205  209 

Mifflin,  Edward  (V.) 17 

Mifflin,  Edward    (son  of  Sam- 
uel)       210 

Mifflin,  Eleanor   9,  27,  32 

Mifflin,  Elizabeth  (?)   13 

Mifflin,  Elizabeth  (?)   14 

Mifflin,   Elizabeth    (»i.    Oram) 

13,  35   36 

Mifflin,  Elizabeth  (IV.)   36 

^Hfflin,  Elizabeth  ( V.-l)    18 

ilifflin,    Elizabeth    (V.-2)     (m. 

Howell)   18,  221 

ilifflin,  Elizabeth  (VI.-l) 18 

Mifflin,  Elizabeth    (VI.-2)    (m. 

Cowgill)    18,  109,  226 

:Mifflin,    Eyre    (/«.    Berry)    18, 

157   221 

Mifflin,  George  (lU.)    ...13,  35,  36 

Mifflin,  George  (IV.)    36 

:Mifflin,  George  (V.)   210 

Mifflin,  Hannah   19 

Mifflin,  Jane    (m.  Waller)    14, 

35  36 

Mifflin,  John  (I.)   9,  24, 

25-27,  31,  32,  34  38 

Mifflin,  John  (II.)    9,  24, 

25,  27,  31,  32,  34,  38 207 

Mifflin,  John  (III.)  .  .13,  35,  36,  205 
Mifflin,  John  (IV.)   (son  of  Ed- 
ward)    15,  36 

Mifflin,    John     (IV.)     (son    of 

George)    36 

Mifflin,    John     (IV.)     (son    of 

John)    36 

Mifflin,  Jonathan 14 


Mifflin,  Colonel  Jonathan  ....     29 
Mifflin,   Jonathan    ("  the    His- 
torian ")   14,  29,  35,  36 

Mifflin,     Jonathan,     "  Senior " 

33,  34,  37 
Mifflin,  Jonathan  Walker.  137, 

220 221 

Mifflin,  Lemuel 19,  137, 

157,  225,  226  228 

Mifflin,  Marj-  (  dau.  of  Samuel)  210 
Mifflin,  Mary  (dau.  of  Southey)  210 

Mifflin,  Mar}-   (V.)    17 

Mifflin,  Mary  ( VI.)   18,  210 

]\Iifflin,  Mary  Ann  19 

Mifflin,  Mary  H 137 

Mifflin,  Patience  (HI.)  13,35,36,37 

Mifflin,  Patience  (IV.)   36 

Mifflin,     Patience      (V.)      (m. 

Hunn)    18,  221 

Mifflin,  Rebecca  (m.  Rowland) 

18, 221 

Mifflin,   Samuel    133 

Mifflin,  Saml 137 

Mifflin,  Samuel  (III.)    ...14,  3.5,  36 
Mifflin,  Samuel   (IV.)    (son  of 

Edward)   . .  .16,  36,  207,  208,  210 
Mifflin,  Samuel   (IV.j    (son  of 

Jonathan)    36 

Mifflin,  Samuel  Emlen, 19, 

157,  225,   226-228 

Mifflin,  Sarah   (IV.)     (dau.    of 

George)    36 

Mifflin,  Sarah    (IV.)    (dau.   of 

Jonathan)    36 

Mifflin,  Sarah  (V.-l)  17 

Mifflin,  Sarah  (V.-2)   18 

Alifflin,  Sarah  (VI.)   18 


238  INDEX 

MifTlin,  Sarah  (VI.)  (m.  Neall) 

19  226 

Mifflin,  Sarah  Ann   137 

Mifflin,  Southey   (IV.) 16, 

36,  207 20S 

Mifflin,  Southey  (V.)    210 

Mifflin,  Susanna   19,  226 

Mifflin,  Major-General  Thomas    43 

Mifflin,  Walker   17,  121,  125 

Mifflin,  Warner  (V.) 16, 

121,   125,   127,   128,  135,  137, 
138,    158,    164-167,    170,    177, 

198,  199,  210-217,  219   222 

(See  also  Table  of  Contents) . 

Mifflin,  Warner  (^a.)  18,  226 

Miller,  Mark  177,  198,  199 

Mills,  John   204 

Mooney,  Thomas 106 

Morine,  John  I.  M 206 

Morris,  Jam  R 217 

:Morris,  Joshua   158,  164 

Morris,  Thomas 170,  198,  199 

Xeall,  Adelaide  Walbaum  ....     21 
Neall,  Anna  Vaughan  (m.  Jus- 
tice)         20 

Neall,  Cecilia  Helen  21 

Neall,  Charlotte  Walbaum 21 

Neall,  Daniel  (I.)    19 

Neall,  Daniel   (II.)    19 

Neall,  Daniel   (IH.)    21 

Neall,  Eliza.  Townsend  (m.  Jus- 
tice)         20 

Neall,     Elizabeth     Johns     (m. 

Gay)    20 

Neall,  Frank  L 20 

Neall,  Jonathan 137 


Neall,  Josephine   21 

Neall,  Margaret  Acton 21 

Neall,  Sarah   19 

Neall,  Warner  Mifflin 19 

Neech,  Ann  (?«.  Eyre)    10,  203 

Needham,  Phebe   133 

Needles,  Edward   137 

Needles,  Elizabeth 137 

Needles,  Trustrem   (?)    107 

Nelson,  Susannah   210 

Newlin,  Eliza    137 

Newlin,  Sarah  Ann  {m.  Mifflin)      18 

Newlin,  William   137 

Nock,  Anne  203-205 

Nock,  Daniel 133,  203,  210 

Nock,  Ezekiel 135,  203 

Nock,  James 210 

Nock,  Patience 204 

Nock,  Sarah   135,  203-205 

Nock,  Sarah,  Jr 135 

Nock,  Tliomas 137,  204,  205 

Oakford,  Aaron   226 

Oram,  Benjamin 13 

Otis,  Maiy  Allyn  (m.  Gay)   ...     20 

Ozburn,  Eunice 135 

Ozburn,  Jonathan   135 

Parrish,  John 167,  198,  199 

Paschal,  Isaac       ♦■    37 

Paxson,  Oliver 72.  199 

Peirce,  Andrew 133 

Pemberton.  James  .  . .  167,  170,  177 

Penn.  William    26,  27,     31 

'•  Pharsalia  "   10,  16,  229 

Potts,  Captain  Francis   11 

Potts,  Joseph    170,  177 

Powell,  Danl 131 

Powell,  Danl.,  Jr 131 


INDEX. 


239 


Powell,  Howell 131 

Powell,  John 131 

Powell,  Sarah 131,  133 

Powell,  William 14 

I^isey,  Joshua  15,  170 

Pusey,  Mary  (?)   15 

Pusey,  Mary  (hi.  (1)  Husband, 

(2)  Mifflin)    15 

Rasin,  Abraham 133 

Rasin,  Eliza  M 137 

Easin,  George 133,  212 

Rasin,  Margaret 133 

Rasin,  Mary  133 

Rasin,  Warner 18,  226 

Rasin,  William 133 

Revell,  Thomas 25 

Richardson,  Ann   133 

Richardson,  Benj 133 

Richardson,  Thos 133 

Robertson,  Ann  210 

Robinson.  Richard 14 

Robinson,  Sarah  (m.  Mifflin).  14 
Rowland,  Isaiah,  137,  149,  153,  166 
Rowland,  Joseph  Galloway ...     18 

Rowland,  Ruth 137 

Rowle,  Hezekiah  133 

Rutter,  Thomas 163 

Savage,  Tliomas,  Jr 10 

Saverj',  William  104,  170,  177 

Scott,  Job  71 

Selby,  John 215,  216 

Seston,  Mary   141 

Sharp,  Peter  131 

Sharp.  Wm 131 

Sharpies,  Rachel   137 

Sibly,  Thomas    25 

Simpson,  John   154.  170,  19S 


Sipple,  Garrett 225 

Smith,  Jane,  Jr 166 

Smith,  Samuel    129,  219 

Spavold,  Samuel   135 

Starr,  James 112 

Stephens,  John    131 

Stephens,  Magda 131 

Stevens,  Elizabeth 133 

Stewardson,  Thomas 199 

Stone,  Julia  De  Witt  (m.  Gay)     22 

Stone,  William  F 22 

Sturgis,  Outlis 215,  216 

Tatnel,  Joseph  170 

Thoma-s,  Rebecca  133 

Thompson,  Dowd 133 

Thornton,  James 74,  158,  164 

Troth,  Eliza,  Jr 131 

Troth,  Henry   131 

Troth,  Samuel    198 

Truett,  Solomon 135 

Trulock,  Henry   133 

Wainwright  (?)   137 

Walbaum,  Rev.  Adolphus  ....  20 
Walbaum,      Wilhelmina      {m. 

Xeall)    20 

Walker,  Ann    (m.  Mifflin)    15, 

121,    125 

Walker,  John  15 

Waller,  John 14 

Wain,  Nicholas 158,  159, 

164,   170,   173,   176,   182,  198,  199 

Walton,  John  209 

Warner,  Joseph 15,  133,  211 

Washington,  George. . .  .40.  56, 

64,  73,  74,  158, 162-164 

Webb,  Mary  131 

Webb,  Sarah 131 


240 


INDEX. 


Webb,  Sary,  Jr 131 

West,  Joseph   167,  170 

Wethred,  John 211  et  seq. 

Wilks,  Thos 133 

Willcox,  Anna  Goodenow  ....  23 

Willcox,  Daniel  23 

Willcox,  Elizabeth  Neall 23 

Willcox,  Henry   23 

Willcox,  Sydney  Gay 23 

Willcox,  William  Goodenow  . .  22 

WiUcox,  William  Henry   22 

Wilson,  Daniel  135 


Wilson,  George 133 

Wilson,  James  133 

Wilson,  Patience       135 

Wilson,  Ruth   135 

Wilson,  Sarah 133 

Wilson,  Thos 135,  138 

Wilson,  William 141,  166 

Worcester,  Noah 73 

Wright,  Cecilia  (m.  Anderson)     20 

Yarnall,  EU  167,  177 

Young,  Martha  (ffi.  Stone) 22 


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